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Orecchiette with Red Pepper Sauce, Guanciale and Robiolina (Pasta with Red Pepper Sauce)

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

  • 1 bag 500g orecchiette or the pasta of your choice
  • 1 can 800g roasted red pepper sauce
  • 2 x ½ inch slices of guanciale cut in ¼ inch strips (1 cup)
  • 1/2 cup Parmigiano Reggiano plus a little more for finishing touches
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • A hand full of fresh basil leaves chiffonade (cut in thin strips)
  • Extra virgin oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Sauté the guanciale: In a large skillet, over medium-low heat, add the cut guanciale and sauté until it becomes crispy and golden brown. Remove the guanciale from the pan and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Keep the fat in the pan.
  • Pour in the roasted red pepper sauce and let it simmer gently for a few minutes to heat through and blend the flavors. Add half of the basil leaves. Keep the rest for garnish.
  • Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
  • Combine the pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the roasted red pepper sauce. Toss the pasta with the sauce until well-coated. Add a few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. If the sauce is too thick, you can add some of the reserved pasta water gradually until you reach your desired consistency.
  • Turn off the heat and add the grated Parmigiano Reggiano. Stir until the cheese melts.
  • Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.
  • Make it fancy! Take a pasta bowl and scoop the Robiolina cheese onto the side of the plate. With the back of the spoon, gently spread the cheese in a back-and-forth motion, starting from the center top (12 o’clock) and moving downward to the center-bottom (6 o’clock) in a half-moon shape.
  • Plate the pasta in the middle of the plate, making sure to not cover the Robiolina.
  • Finish with some more Parmigiano Reggiano, the remaining basil leaves, a drizzle of olive oil, and of course the crunchy bits of guanciale.