RomanItalian
Half Paccheri with Lime and Bottarga on Ricotta and Basil Cream
by Cucina con Ruben · 548K subscribers on YouTube
A quick and elegant New Year's Eve pasta dish: half paccheri tossed with lime zest and bottarga, served over a creamy ricotta and basil cream. The chef demonstrates how to create a silky sauce by emulsifying pasta water with the starchy pasta, then finishing with fresh lime and grated bottarga. Perfect for a last-minute impressive meal.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Servings
- 2
- Difficulty
- medium
Ingredients
10 items- 300 gPaccheri (Or Half Paccheri)Use bronze-drawn paccheri for best texture
- BottargaGrated and in flakes for garnish
- 1 pcsLimeZest and juice
- Cow's RicottaCow's milk ricotta, more delicate than sheep's
- BasilFresh leaves, for soffritto and garnish
- 2 pcsGarlicCloves, whole or sliced
- 1 pcsChili PepperFresh chili pepper, sliced
- Extra Virgin Olive OilFor cooking and finishing
- SaltFor pasta water
- Black PepperTo taste
Method
- Prepare a soffritto with chili pepper and garlic in extra virgin olive oil. Reserve a little for decoration.
- Add a few basil leaves to the soffritto and sauté gently.
- Cook the paccheri in salted boiling water until al dente, reserving some pasta water.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta with a splash of pasta water until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Grate some bottarga and zest the lime.
- When the pasta is almost done, transfer it to the pan with the soffritto and a little pasta water. Finish cooking over high heat, stirring to emulsify.
- Turn off the heat, add grated bottarga and lime zest, and toss well. The pasta should be slightly saucy.
- Spread the ricotta cream on the bottom of a serving plate or individual bowls.
- Arrange the paccheri on top of the cream.
- Garnish with additional bottarga flakes, lime zest, chili pepper pieces, and fresh basil leaves.
Cucina con Ruben
Home cookReviewer548K subscribers on YouTube242.9M total channel viewsRuben Bondi - cucina italiana, kosher e giudaico-romana. Diventato noto durante il lockdown cucinando dal balcone a Trastevere.
