Friday, March 4, 2011

COOKING PASTA WITH LIMITED WATER: RISOTTO STYLE

Do you ever listen to The Splendid Table, hosted by Lynne Rossetto Kasper, on NPR?  I usually catch it on Saturday or Sunday evening, often cooking our own dinner while I listen to Lynne interview guests about food, cooking and eating - the slow food movement, how to reject a bottle of bad wine in a restaurant, how truffles are grown, how to roast coffee beans at home, favorite regional foods.  I often learn something new, as I did a few months ago when Lynne and her guest, Harold McGee, a food scientist, discussed cooking dry pasta as you would risotto, rather than in a pot of boiling water (here is a link to that show).

Odel makes a dynamite pasta sauce and, since we often have some in the freezer, it seems like a natural for boondocking – but boiling pasta seems like such a waste of scarce water!  Since pasta cooked in the style of risotto (that is, cooked in only as much liquid as can be absorbed) seemed to be boondocking friendly, I filed the idea away, intrigued.

Recently the same unusual cooking method popped up again, this time on a blog I was introduced to by Margaret Wright while we were in Tucson: Shadowcook.  The most recent post is titled “Pasta with Duck Sausage and Carrots, Risotto-Style”, and I immediately paid attention.  Her recipe was inspired by an older recipe in Saveur magazine that also used the risotto cooking method. 

I like to make risotto – often a good way to use up bits of leftover meat or fish, or to turn a few vegetables and some cheese into a creamy comfort food, much more luxurious than its individual parts.  The idea of using dry pasta in place of rice interested me, so I printed both of the recipes.

A couple of nights ago, I adapted ideas from both recipes to come up with one suited to what I had on hand (and our taste).  We both loved it, so I turned my jotted notes into something more formal and tucked it into my recipe box.  If you would like to give it a try, here is the link: Risotto-Style Pasta with Italian Sausage.

With spring on the way, I think I may experiment with a risotto-style pasta primavera before long, maybe some asparagus, peas, diced carrots, with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of lemon zest just before dishing up…

I must be ready for lunch!  We’re traveling north on Hwy 99 towards Sacramento; time to find a rest stop and have a bite to eat.

14 comments:

  1. ahh, Wonderful HWY 99. How in the world are you managing to type on that bumpy road?? I have to go get the recipe right now. Sounds yummy!

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  2. On another note. Great cook that you are, maybe you already do this: I freeze tomato paste in globs on wax paper. So many recipes call for a tablespoon or two and I hate opening that little can and then having it go bad. So far I haven't popped for that expensive stuff in a tube!

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  3. That's sounds really good. I'll have to try it. I know you two have your camping sites pretty much figured out, but you might check out Beal's Pt. campground at the Folsom Lake SRA. I hear they recently got 12 new full hook-ups. We ride up to Beal's Pt. on a weekly basis and the place is looking very nice. There are lots and lots of trails, the lake is right there, old town Folsom is just across the bridge with places to eat etc. If you need more info. FB me. Denise, in EDH.

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  4. I think I see why Odel keeps you around Laurie!!! Married to a master chef, he has never eaten so good in his life. LOL Tell him he owes you big time!

    Rod

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  5. Printed Odel's pasta sauce recipe AND your risotto recipe..thanks for sharing..I LOVE recipes...Sure wish WE were bumping on down the road in our Hiker!!

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  6. Sounds yummy! And the tip about the tomato paste from Malone is wonderful! Not sure why my little brain never thought of that...

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  7. I don't think I'll wait until we are RVing to try this. Sounds very good.

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  8. What a great idea! Thanks for sharing the recipe - sounds like not only a great savings on water, but a tastier way to enjoy regular pasta!

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  9. That looks like a great recipe that I'll be trying soon. I also have a recipe or two in which the pasta cooks in the sauce. This is great for camping as then I can cook the whole meal the BBQ as a heat source. I also sometimes cook the pasta in the microwave - 1 cup pasta to 1 3/4 cups water, milk, broth. All the liquid is absorbed. Quick and easy but not so good for boondocking!

    Thanks for sharing.

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  10. Mmm this sounds yummy and a great energy saving idea. The only thing better would have been eating at your table with you two.

    Sherry
    www.directionofourdreams.blogspot.com

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  11. okay had to save that recipe since we love pasta and love italian sausage...

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  12. Hi, Enjoy reading your blog however, I have a problem...Your blog is in my "Favorites". When I click on it from there, I am immediately taken to your Dec. 30 page so then I have to go over to the left column & click on 2011 to find your recent blog. Over the years of reading, this only started happening after Dec 30. Before, when I clicked on your blog page it brought me straight to the recent entry. It's not a big deal but any ideas why? Thanks.

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  13. Hello, Anon. I don't know why your "Favorite" changed, but here is the problem. For some reason, the address that is currently saved as your "Favorite" is the specific address for the 12/30 post: http://laurieandodel.blogspot.com/2010/12/favorite-foods-in-foothills-of-yuma-az.html

    This address goes specifically to the post dated December 30, about avocados and chocolate.

    If you want to go to the current post on the blog, you need to change the Favorite to "http://laurieandodel.blogspot.com". You can either edit your Favorite, or just go to LaurieAndOdel.blogspot.com and save it as a favorite - the shorter address should overwrite the specific-to-December-30 address that is currently saved.

    Thanks for visiting!

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  14. I can't wait to settle in to my new kitchen (on order) and try some of your recipes. Thanks for sharing!

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