Pici all’aglione

Frankpasta, primi piatti, Toscana48 Comments

Pici all'aglione

As I’ve pointed out many times over the years, one of the hallmarks of “fake” Italian cookery is its in-your-face use of garlic. Now of course garlic is a common ingredient in Italian cooking. But Italians generally use it with great discretion. A common technique, featured in this blog for … Read More

Ragù di lenticchie (Lentil Ragu)

Frankpasta, primi piatti59 Comments

Ragù di lenticchie (Lentil Ragù)

As long time readers may remember, my very favorite pasta when I was a kid was Angelina’s austerely simple but delicious pasta e lenticchie (Pasta with Lentils). I liked it so much so that most of the time I’d prefer to eat pasta e lenticchie even over her extraordinary Sunday … Read More

Gramigna con salsiccia

FrankEmilia-Romagna, pasta, primi piatti38 Comments

Gramigna con salsiccia

Gramigna is a delightful curlicue shaped pasta from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. The word means Bermuda grass in Italian and I suppose the pasta does rather resemble it, if you make liberal use of your imagination. There are various ways to dress gramigna, but surely the best known is … Read More

Penne al baffo

Frankpasta, primi piatti36 Comments

Penne al baffo

Penne al baffo is one of those quick and easy pasta dishes that epitomize casual Italian cookery at its delicious best. Shallots and ham are quickly sautéed, tomato passata and cream are added and reduced into a lovely coral colored sauce. Your pasta, cooked to slightly less than al dente, … Read More