Friday 28 March 2008

In the Bag, March 2008: orrechiette with PSB, bacon, and gorgonzola, with PSB and chestnut pesto

OK, so this month's challenge. Use PSB.

That's it? Oh, ok, then. Fair enough.

Right.

So. Let's have one of my usual, hopelessly vague measurement-riddled recipes.

Take some orrechiette and cook according to manufacturer's instructions.

Grab some purple sprouting broccoli (from here on, and ever after, PSB) - a handful and a bit more for each person. Blanch for a minute or two in boiling water, then plunge into iced water. Set aside.

Chop up bacon into small strips - the equivalent of about 2 rashers per person. I use dry- or sweet-cured. Fry until slightly browned and crispy. Drain onto kitchen towel, and set aside.

Crumble some creamy gorgonzola - not too much, or it'll overwhelm the whole dish. Start with a little, and then you can always add more. In contrast, trying to take out molten cheese from food is not a good way to go. It hurts, and it's messy. Again, set aside.

In a food processor, blitz a good handful of blanched PSB, a small handful of cooked chestnuts, half a clove of garlic, and a small handful of parmesan, and a good glug of a decent olive oil, plus seasoning to taste. Whizz it all in the processor until you have a pesto consistency - it shouldn't be too thick, as you want it to properly coat the pasta. Taste, and adjust according to your preferences/fussiness/perfection levels.

OK, so your pasta should be ready now, so go drain it.

In the same (large) frying pan as you fried the bacon in, add a glug of olive oil and heat through. Tip in the pasta, bacon, and PSB. Once mixed, add the pesto. Finally, lob in the gorgonzola. One final stir, and you can serve it and start getting your chops round it all.


orrechiette with PSB, gorgonzola, and bacon, with PSB and chestnut pesto 1




orrechiette with PSB, gorgonzola, and bacon, with PSB and chestnut pesto

And there you have it. 'In the Bag', again.

29 comments:

Sylvie said...

That looks like a pretty good 'kind of recipe'. Yum.

Peter M said...

Nevermind a forkful...a plate full!

Nice touch with the gorgonzola.

Tiina said...

Lovely colours, and your photos are beautiful. I must admit that I'm not a fan of gorgonzola, but all the other ingredients are very much to my liking! :)

Heather said...

I love that dish. Broccolis of any variety are my favorite. And I agree with Peter, gorg makes it better.

test it comm said...

With gorgonzola, bacon, chestnuts and lots of fresh green vegetables this sounds and looks really amazing!

Manggy said...

Oh, that just looks so wholesome, just the kind of dish I'd love :) We don't get PSB here, far as I can tell :/

Pixie said...

Like the idea of chestnuts added to the pesto. Sounds wonderful.

RecipeGirl said...

Looks like some great spring veggie flavors!

Simply...Gluten-free said...

Yum, it looks wonderful. I will have to try with gluten free pasta.

Maggie said...

I could eat a plate of that....right now!
I have never heard of chestnut pesto before. That's the beauty of foodblogging you learn something new every day.

Anonymous said...

Reading this post, you make it sound so easy! We'll have to try the chestnuts in the peso one day. Thanks!

Rosie said...

Oh I just love the colours in this dish and what great pics!! Great entry :)

Rosie x

Anonymous said...

That looks delicious, I love PSB! I don't want to get repetitive here but the gorgonzola really makes it.

Anonymous said...

Yummy! Orrechiette is one of my favorite pastas! I love the little ears and it is a huge hit in my house.

Gattina Cheung said...

I know I must dream about this pesto tonight... absolutely gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

broccoli + gorgonzola = i'm sold. and the finished dish looks beatiful.

Abitofafoodie said...

Mmmm - what gorgeous colours! Great idea to make pesto with PSB.

Scott at Real Epicurean said...

Nice work. I can imagine how those flavours work really well together.

Cynthia said...

Have you ever found that you see something so incredibly delicious and want to eat it so badly but you don't want to make it yourself? You want the person who is showing it to make it? Well that is the reaction I am having right now :) Of course it does not help that I am watching and drooling just before I head off to bed :)

Chibog in Chief said...

aww, i love all these flavors!! delicious!!

Cakelaw said...

This looks delicious - the gorgonzola crumbled on top makes it irresistable.

Anna said...

Ooh, great photos. And bacon is always a plus ^__^

Helene said...

Oh you left me a big plateful of it :) It looks absolutely delicious!

Nilmandra said...

I wouldn't have thought of using PSB in a pesto, good idea! It really works with this pasta dish.

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Those are some beautiful colors. I'd love a dish right about now to calm my growling stomach.

Lore said...

Such a colourful pasta dish! And the pesto sounds just great.

Anonymous said...

Now that looks good AND healthy! Thanks for sharing!!

Anonymous said...

Oh wow, that looks amazing!

Anonymous said...

wow, looks delicious