Skip navigation

Celebrity Italian dinners: Batali and Tomei favorites

‘Iron Chef,’ Oscar winner share their delicious pasta recipes

Video
  Batali and Tomei cook Italian
Jan. 29: The chef and the actress talk about their cookbook, “The Celebrity Italian Table,” and make a tasty farfalle.

Today Show Kitchen

  Recipes from TODAY
Find the recipes featured on Today
TODAY
updated 1:23 p.m. ET Jan. 29, 2008

Chef Mario Batali and Academy Award-winning actress Marisa Tomei share their love of delicious pasta in a new cookbook called “The Celebrity Italian Table,” a collection of six three-course Italian meals that benefits America's Second Harvest: The Nation's Food Bank Network. So eat up, it’s for a good cause!

Farfalle with pancetta, rucola and truffle paste
Marisa Tomei

4 servings

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounces guanciale (may substitute bacon or pancetta), diced
1 small red onion, cut lengthwise in half and then into 1/4-inch-thick half-moons
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 pound Barilla farfalle
2 tablespoons truffle paste
1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino-Romano, plus extra for serving
1 bunch arugula, chopped

Recipe continues below ↓
advertisement


DIRECTIONS

Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot and add 2 tablespoons salt.

Meanwhile, in a 10- to 12-inch sauté pan, heat the olive oil over low heat. Add the guanciale and cook slowly until the guanciale has rendered its fat and is crisp and golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add the onion and garlic and cook gently until golden brown, about 5 minutes longer. Remove from the heat.

Cook the Barilla farfalle in the boiling water for 1 minute less than the package instructions indicate; drain, reserving 4 tablespoons cooking water. Add the pasta to the pan with the reserved cooking water. Add the truffle paste, guanciale and the grated cheese; mix well and toss over high heat for one minute. Add the arugula and toss for about 30 more seconds, until just wilted.

Divide among four warmed pasta bowls and serve with additional cheese on the side.

TIPS

Add fresh truffle slices to each bowl, then finish with truffle paste and additional grated cheese.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


Fettuccine with pumpkin and bread crumbs
Mario Batali

4 servings

INGREDIENTS

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 red onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
6 salt-packed anchovy fillets, soaked in milk for 20 minutes, rinsed and drained
1 pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 pound Barilla fettuccine
1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs, toasted

DIRECTIONS

Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons of salt. In a 12- to 14-inch sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and anchovies. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion and garlic are softened and the anchovies have begun to break up.

Turn the heat up to high and add the squash cubes. Cook over high heat for 5 minutes or until the cubes are tender and browned at the edges. Season with the salt and pepper and remove from the heat.

Cook the Barilla fettuccine in the boiling water for 1 minute less than according to the package directions. While the pasta is cooking, warm the squash mixture. Drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the squash. Add the parsley and remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and toss over high heat for 1 minute.

Divide the pasta and squash evenly among four warmed pasta bowls, top with bread crumbs and serve immediately.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


For more information about “The Celebrity Italian Cookbook,’ which is available for a free download, visit celebrityitaliantable.com.

© 2008 MSNBC Interactive