Chef Chuck's Bean and Farro Soup

Zuppa di Fagioli e Farro


This bean and farro soup is fit for a Roman, packed with flavors to warm you up! Farro is an ancient grain popular in Italy. Sometimes hard to find, you can substitute with spelt or even barley. A healthy and hearty soup to enjoy with crusty Italian bread and red wine.


Bean and Farro Soup


1 cup farro, whole grain
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 slice pancetta, 1/2 inch, diced
1 hot Italian sausage
1 onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
6 cups chicken broth
2 cans white beans
grana padano, grated
red hot pepper flakes, optional


Wash and rinse farro, cook in plenty of salted water for 1 hour, drain. In a large pot heat olive oil, remove sausage from casings and break up, cook along with the pancetta for about 5 minutes. Add all vegetables and saute another 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and brown for a few minutes, add tomatoes, garlic, vinegar, farro and broth. Simmer with lid on for 1 hour, stirring and checking that there is enough liquid. You can add broth or even a little water if needed. Add beans and simmer an additional 1/2 hour. This is a thick soup! Grate grana padano, or parmigiana over the soup and red hot flakes.

Chef Chuck's Crumb Torta " Sbrisolona ''

Sbrisolona


A torta so delicious with coffee or tea, sbrisolona meaning crumbly, explains the texture of this almond flavored dessert. Sbrisolona, is popular in northern Italy, a sweet recipe from the Lombardy region. A quick and inexpensive dessert to make and enjoy with your family.


Crumb Torta

1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 cups almonds, ground
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 egg yolks
16 tablespoons butter, 2 sticks
zest of 1 lemon
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice


In a food processor or blender grind almonds to a fine consistency. In a bowl whisk almonds, flour, sugar, salt, vanilla, lemon zest, lemon juice and egg yolks together. The mixture will be dry, cut butter in small chunks and using your hands squeeze with the dry ingredients to form a crumbly mixture. Generously butter a 9" or 10 " round pan, place half the mixture in and press down lightly, then crumble on the rest, bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Chef Chuck's Filascetta

Filascetta


A unique bread, filascetta, is a northern Italian specialty, made of bread dough, red onions and a soft cheese. Sugar is sprinkled on top before baking and gives the bread a sweet caramelized flavor. The shape of the dough is a ciambelle or donut shape. An antipasti that makes an impressive centerpiece on any dinner table.


Filascetta


1 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1/3 cup warm water, 110 degrees
2 tablespoons olive oil
pinch of salt


Using a measuring cup add water, then yeast and sugar, let rest 7 minutes. Add olive oil and salt to yeast mixture. Mound the flour on a board make a well in center then pour liquid in the center of flour. Slowly combine and knead till you get a smooth dough. Place in a oiled bowl and let rise for 2 hours in a warm location.


Topping


2 red onions, sliced thin
4 tablespoon butter
pinch of salt
1 cup soft cheese, grated
taleggio or fontina
1 tablespoon sugar


Melt butter and saute onions with a pinch of salt for about 30 minutes.
When dough has risen roll out into a large round shape place cheese on top and then onions. Sprinkle sugar on top of onions, bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.
Ricette by Chef Chuck's Cucina

Chef Chuck's Cheese Tortellini

Tortellini ai Formaggi

These velvety light cheese tortellini were the perfect meal on this cold winter day. Tortellini are homemade pasta filled with soft ricotta, parmigiana, and prosciutto. Tortellini take time to assemble so gather around the family and everyone can make these together. Gently cooked in salted boiling water then transferred to melted butter and fresh sage, delicious!


Cheese Tortellini

Dough
1 2/3 cups flour
3 eggs
pinch of salt


On a board mound up the flour and make a well in the middle, add eggs and salt to the center. Using a fork lightly scramble the eggs and slowly add about a quarter of the flour. Then start mixing with your hands till it's all incorporated. Knead for about 5 minutes, wrap in plastic and let rest on counter at least half an hour.


Filling
2 cups whole milk ricotta
1 cup parmigiano cheese, grated
1 egg
6 thin slices prosciutto, chopped
salt and pepper to taste


Combine all ingredients in a bowl.


Sauce
5 tablespoons butter
12 sage leaves

Cut dough in half, keep one half wrapped in plastic on the side. Roll out dough with a roller to its very thin or using a pasta machine go to number 8 for a thin sheet. Cut dough into squares about 1 1/2 inches, place a small amount of filling in center. Fold dough over corner to corner then seal sides with fingers, now you should have a triangle shape. Fold two ends under and connect, lay on baking sheet. Cook in salted boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Meanwhile heat butter and sage leaves, add tortellini, toss and serve with parmigiana cheese grated on top.
Ricette by Chef Chuck's Cucina

Chef Chuck's Sausage Strata

A strata for breakfast is the perfect way to start your day, assemble the night before and then bake in the morning. I use my focaccia recipe for the bread cubes and hot Italian sausage. Soaking all evening in eggs, whole milk and parmigiana, guarantees a fluffy light breakfast.


Sausage Strata


8 organic eggs
2-3 hot Italian sausage links
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup parmigiana cheese, grated
2 cups whole milk
2-3 cups bread cubes
salt and pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter

Open sausage links and break up, cook in olive oil till brown. Drain and set aside. In same pan saute onions, season with salt and pepper cook about 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute another minute, return sausage to pan. Whisk eggs, cheese and milk together. Use a 9x12 baking dish, butter bottom and sides. Place bread cubes in pan then sausage and onions, and pour egg mixture over the top. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or over night. Bake uncovered 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Cut in square servings.

Chef Chuck's Chicken Saltimbocca

Saltimbocca di Pollo


Chicken Saltimbocca is a simple classic recipe from northern Italy, it is usually prepared with veal, I prefer the chicken. Saltimbocca, means jump into the mouth, and that it did! The chicken was very moist, while the sage gave the dish an earthy flavor, and the prosciutto added a salty touch. A quick and easy recipe to enjoy with your family.


Chicken Saltimbocca


4 boneless, skinless organic chicken breasts
fresh sage leaves
4 slices prosciutto, not too thin
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup flour
salt and pepper


Place chicken between plastic wrap and pound with a mallet to about 1/4 inch thick. Season both sides with salt and pepper, lay a few sage leaves on one side and top with one slice of prosciutto. Fasten with a toothpick, dredge in flour. Heat olive oil and butter over medium high heat and fry each side for about 2 or 3 minutes. Drizzle with olive oil.

Chef Chuck's Lobster Soup

Zuppa di Aragosta


Lobster soup is an elegant soup to serve your guests for the holidays. The sweetness of the lobster, combined with the buttery pine nuts, and all the fresh organic vegetables, olives and herbs made this a superior soup. Served over orzo it was comforting recipe.


Lobster Soup


2 lobsters
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/4 cup pine nuts
a handful of black olives, halved
1 tablespoon lemon juice
4 cups vegetable broth
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1 cup orzo


Remove lobster meat from shell and cut in small pieces, reserve shell. In a large pot heat olive oil and cook tomato paste for 3-4 minutes. Add and saute onions, carrots, celery and red bell pepper for about 5 minutes. Add garlic and stir in 1 minute. Add pine nuts, olives, lemon juice, broth, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Place lobster shell in the pot,cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Add lobster meat and parsley turn off cover for 3 minutes and the lobster will cook from the heat of the soup. Remove lobster shell. Cook orzo in a separate pot and add to soup when serving it.