Proud Italian Cook

Little Lasagnas with Tomato, Burrata and Pesto

March 5, 2012 by Marie 26 Comments

This recipe was inspired by a photo I saw in La Cucina Italiana magazine, many years ago and although my version is much more simplified than the original, because I used some store-bought ingredients, I can assure you nothing lacked in the flavor department.

This recipe is such a hit each time I make it, it’s lighter than traditional lasagne and perfect for the summer months, and with creamy burrata adorning it, what’s not to like?

Being able to purchase fresh lasagna sheets and good quality pesto is key to the simplicity and taste, a quick 2 minute boil for the pasta then cooled down in ice water and patted dry.

The ingredients consist of fresh pasta sheets that are scattered with roasted tomatoes along with their lovely juice, dollops of store-bought basil pesto (not pictured here), grated parmesan or Pecorino, another drizzle of olive oil and of course the main character, burrata cheese!

You can do 2 or 3 layers at a time but I prefer three. You can assemble them on parchment paper that has been brushed with olive oil on a baking sheet, if you’re making quite a few, but I have made this several times since 2012 ( the 2 bottom pictures have been updated in 2019) when I first posted this and now I’ve come to love baking them in individual small casserole dishes.

I just oil the bottom and sides of the baking dish then spread a couple of spoonfuls of marinara on the bottom, then the layering starts.

Pasta sheet, roasted tomatoes with some of their juice, pesto, torn burrata and either Pecorino or Parmigiana sprinkled all over.

Because everything is precooked all you have to do is basically heat them through in a 450 oven until the burrata has melted and the edges are golden, somewhere around 15 minutes or so. Garnish with chopped basil and a few whole roasted tomatoes, ( because it gives a pretty presentation ) and serve immediately!

This is fantastic for a dinner party or a pretty quick mid week meal, just add a fresh green salad along with some crusty bread!

Buon Appetito!

26 Comments Filed Under: Fresh Pasta, Pasta Tagged: Burrata cheese, deconstructed lasagna, freeform lasagne, lasagne, little lasagnas, roasted tomatoes

Stuffed Tomahawk Pork Chop

February 28, 2012 by Marie 21 Comments

There’s a new market that opened up in my area and I’ve been like a kid in a candy store trying out some of their different products and produce, cuts of meat, fish and fabulous bakery, I could go on and on about this place and I will at a later date as I’ve been invited to a private tour in a few weeks from now.

The first time I went I couldn’t resist the tomahawk pork chops that were sitting in the meat case, these things are huge, think Flintstone style, and resemble a small axe, hence the name tomahawk!
Berkshire pork is prized for it’s juiciness, flavor and tenderness, it’s the prime rib of the pork loin and weighs in at around 1pound!
I never cooked one before but the minute I saw it I knew I was going to stuff it so I asked the butcher to cut me a nice deep pocket, which he happily did!

My stuffing consisted of crumbled feta cheese, sliced sun dried tomatoes packed in oil, grated lemon peel and chopped fresh spinach. I used my indoor grill pan to brown it first before I stuffed it then seasoned it with salt, pepper and a sprig of rosemary. I secured the opening with 3 wooden skewers then finished baking it in the same grill pan at 375 in the oven until meat thermometer reached 145.

This is very impressive and easily feeds 2 hungry people, and the flavor? Well all I can say is that it’s out of this world! Go try and hunt one down!

Buon Appetito!

21 Comments Filed Under: Meats Tagged: Berkshire Pork, stuffed pork chop, Tomahawk pork chop

Roasted Salmon with Pan Seared Gnocchi

February 22, 2012 by Marie 23 Comments

This is not so much a recipe, but by placing these components together you create a fabulous meal! If you read my blog regularly you know I love my roasted tomatoes, I make them simply by placing foil on a rimmed lined baking sheet then adding shaved garlic and a very generous amount of olive oil, salt and pepper over my sweet cherry, grape or Campari tomatoes, roasting them in a 400-425 degree oven. The tin foil holds all that juicy, tomatoey, oily goodness that comes out, for fear any would burn off!
For added flavor in this dish, capers and olives were tossed into the juice.
I always roast my salmon at 450 for 15 minutes, take it out and let it rest.

Have you tried pan seared gnocchi yet? I urge you to try it! I had leftover ricotta gnocchi in my freezer and right from the frozen state you saute it in a pan with melted butter and a drizzle of olive oil, the outside gets golden and crispy and the middle is soft. I learned this technique from watching Chef Jonathan Waxman in a live demo. It was the perfect companion for my salmon along with some sauteed spinach.