Food Buzz Badge

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Cucina Povera

I've been getting to work really early lately.  Part of it is being super-busy, which I love, but part of it is that I love being in the office when it is so quiet.  This morning I can hear the rain pounding on the roof.

We're on a downhill slide into fall here in Anchorage.  I've been meaning to take pictures of the transformation, which include a flock of Canadian geese gathering on the mud flats near my house and the blooming of the fireweed.  Alaska legend is you can tell how long it will be until winter by when the fireweed finishing blooming and then goes to cotton.

For the first time in a couple of weeks, I was home to make dinner last night.  On Golden Pond is fully blocked and going well, but the nights we aren't in rehearsal I'm usually staying late at work or running the errands that I haven't had time to do. 

Last night I was determined to make something delicious, simple and packable to take to work for lunch.  I am fascinated by the Italian concept of cucina povera--literally, poverty kitchen--not because of the financial aspect of it (we are fortunate in that regard), but because it means you make a delicious dish from basically nothing. 

This dish is so simple that I kept wanting to do something more with it, like adding anchovies, chicken sausage or olives.  In the end, I left it proudly unadorned, the way it was meant to be.  It originated in Puglia, the single food region I most want to visit in Italy and haven't had the opportunity to--yet.

Rigatoni with Bread Crumbs and Parmesan
Adapted from Lidia's Italy by Lidia Bastianich

1 eight-inch piece of white country bread--baguette, French, ciabatta
1/3 cup olive oil
4 large cloves of garlic, sliced thinly
1 lb. dried rigatoni
1/4 cup Italian parsley, chopped
1/4 cup good-quality Parmesan, finely shredded, with more for garnish if desired
4 small dried peperoncino peppers, crumbled
Good-quality finishing olive oil
Sea salt and freshly-ground pepper

Trim the crust from the bread and then pull it into crumbs with your hands.  The crumbs should be various sizes.

Start a large pot of water to boil for the pasta, adding at least a tablespoon of salt.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil.  When it is shimmering, add the bread crumbs and garlic.  Toss the crumbs to coat them with the oil, and toss occasionally when cooking so that they brown and crisp.

When the water is ready, add the pasta and cook for about nine or ten minutes, until the pasta is al dente.  Reserve half a cup of the pasta water and drain the pasta thoroughly.  Then add it back to the pot and cover it until ready to use.

The crumbs will be ready when they are lightly golden and crispy--make sure not to scorch the garlic.

Toss the pasta with a little of the cooking water to coat it.  Add the crumbs, parsley, peperoncini and Parm to the pasta and toss thoroughly.  Season with salt and pepper, then drizzle with good-quality finishing olive oil and toss again.


Serve with another grating of Parmesan.  Makes six appetizer pasta servings or four generous main course servings.  I served this with a side of fried zucchini and a bottle of dry, minerally Gruner Veltliner.

42 comments:

  1. Wow this is exactly how my nanna made it... what a great memory I love pasta like this! thank you for making me remember this is so similar! I cant wait to make this :) <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad this brought back good memories for you! Did your nanna use peperoncini? That was a revision I made from the original recipe because I thought it would add a little color/spice. I loved it but am not sure how authentic that addition was.

      Delete
  2. This looks delicious. Isn't it surprising how sometimes the best dishes are the simplest?

    I hope you (and I) get to Puglia someday!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Just had to add that I ate leftovers of this for lunch today and it was so good! The crumbs weren't quite as crunchy, but the flavor was tops.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Simple and cheap is sometimes best. I would have a hard time resisting too with a couple of additions but good to go straightforward a first time. Something along the line of cucina povera I really enjoy is the tomato bread soup.

    ReplyDelete
  5. YUM! I agree with previous comments... simple and inexpensive can really surprise you.. because that's when you get creative and also stick to basic flavors and fresh stuff... yum!

    ReplyDelete
  6. From meager means comes some great dishes. This sounds delicious! Glad the play is progressing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh my. I can't get over how simple and delicious this looks. "Poverty Kitchen?" Could've fooled me. This looks so much better than the wimpy dinner I had!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This looks GORGEOUS!

    I've been looking for dishes like this to make after work in the evenings! I just added this to our menu next week!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I know what you mean about working when it's quiet. I love getting up early at my house (my only time it's quiet) and sitting at my computer without requests from my kids and husband for this and that. This is a beautiful pasta. Glad you got a night to cook and enjoy it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is a great looking pasta dish, and it's really true that sometimes the simplest things are the best! Glad to hear On Golden Pond is doing well, and would love to see photos of the fireweed...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Am so looking forward to your autumn taking sway whilst magnolias and cherries are madly blooming down here and nesting birds are angrily swooping down on passers-by too close to their nests . . . I too have become very interested in the cooking of Puglia: a number of our TV foodie shows have hovered around the area just recently, and, yes, this dish was one on the 'show and tell'!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I used to go to work early too, so that I can get most of my work done before everyone gets to work. I had no problem getting up early back then...until the past year I started blogging and lots of late nights and my exhaustion from being with the kids give me hard time waking up! Anyway, I love Italian food because of simple cooking. Never had Rigatoni with Bread Crumbs and Parmesan and I'd love to give it a try.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Getting to work early really works for me! I can always get so much more done in a day! The pasta looks amazing! So simple and I bet it made for a fantastic meal. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Some of the best meals are simple.

    I love getting to work early, I find that I am much more productive.

    I hope this reheated well for lunch.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Simple italian dishes are the absolute BEST on busy days. I've been getting to work super early and leaving late myself... The summer was busy for me. I'm hoping the fall helps me slow down a bit :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. The simplicity of the dish makes it so appealing.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love this type of chubby pasta and love the simplicity and elegance of this dish...I hope you're having a fabulous start to your weekend, my friend!!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Something new but why not. After all, simple food keeps me going most of the time and what great way to use up bread slices. The next round with bread slices will be this easy but looking really good recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm with you on the concept of enjoying a simply made unadorned pasta, the idea of the rain pounding on the roof sets a tone in your post that I like very much! This time of year we are so dry here in Nor Cal, hope you send a few storms our way:-)

    ReplyDelete
  20. This is a great "there's nothing to cook" meal at our house too. It always comes out looking and tasting special.

    ReplyDelete
  21. this is a lovely pasta dish, cannot wait to try this!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Glad the play in coming along well!

    there's nothing better than a simple Italian dish. lovely recipe. :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. that sounds like a nice pasta idea. I am surprised I had not heard of this one before. Do u know maybe which other cheese types I could use instead? I dont think so I can buy this here. =I

    ReplyDelete
  24. This is how I love my pasta dishes too! Yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I've never had a pasta with toasted breadcrumbs! It looks delicious and a relatively easy dish to make. Love it! Congratulation that On Golden Pond is booked!!! I bet you feel good about that!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Lovely! I love the breadcrumbs. I'm a firm believer in them making pretty much everything taste better :)

    Well done with the On Golden Pond. I'm ready for you to start bringing your shows to Cayman!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love these Italian recipes where you literally create a dish from something that most others would toss away....and it usually tastes absolutely fabulous! Like this pasta dish! Breadcrumbs and parmesan on pasta is such a good thing! Congrats on On Golden Pond! But glad you found time to share this delicious dish! : )

    ReplyDelete
  28. I can't imagine Lidia steering us wrong! What an unusual dish, but it sounds darn tasty. Glad you are seeing signs of autumn...it's still darn hot here in the Midwest :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. This dish sounds very delicious my friend, I love your flavour combo :D
    Congrats on the fantastic booking!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    ReplyDelete
  30. Even cucina povera in Italy has so many things to offer! The dish looks absolutely mouthwatering and sure it is a good way to welcome autumn!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love getting up early too and getting a few things done before my kid is up. I like my little quiet time.
    This pasta dish looks yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  32. There is nothing like pasta to make my heart sing... and guess what??? I have Parm in the fridge right now! :D

    ReplyDelete
  33. This is lovely, I like how it's making something delicious from nothing. My kind of food.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I love simple pasta dishes but I've never had this one. It looks wonderful, though, so I'll have to try it. I must say, your life in Alaska does sound interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  35. The key to simple (and delicious) pasta dishes is incorporating only the freshest ingredients. Fine olive oil, ripe tomatoes, and a quality cheese can be more than enough to satisfy the palate, stomach, and soul!

    ReplyDelete
  36. This looks delicious! I love warm simple pasta dishes, the crunchy bread crumbs sound so good on top :) Making me so excited for cool fall weather and warm meals!

    ReplyDelete
  37. My husband and I have this dish on Christmas eve but sauté garlic and anchovy paste in the olive oil to toss with the pasta and bread crumbs. It is been a tradition in his family for years.

    ReplyDelete
  38. The one thing I find 'poor foods' have in common is that they are so damn tasty! Making this.

    p.s. I love it that you are able to squeeze enjoyment from those busy busy days with those moments of quiet before everyone gets to the office.

    ReplyDelete