Acini de Pepe with Smithfield Ham, Caramelized Squash Ragout and Parmesan Reggiano
Serve with Kendall-Jackson Highland Estates Taylor Peak Merlot
Recipe by Chef Justin Wangler
30 appetizer servings
Pasta Ingredients:
- 1 C. Acini de Pepe dried pasta
- ¼ C. rice oil
- ½ C. Smithfield ham, diced fine
- To taste kosher salt
- 10 oz Squash Ragout (see recipe below)
- 4 oz Parmesan Reggiano cheese, shaved thin
Pasta Preparation:
In a sauté pan over medium low heat cook ham in rice oil for about 3 minutes or until ham flavor is infused into the oil. Remove from pan and let cool. Cook pasta in heavily salted, boiling water for about 10 minutes or until tender. Drain pasta and toss with ham and oil mixture. Set aside and let cool.
Squash Ragout Ingredients:
- 2 lbs zucchini squash, seeds removed and cut into ¼" dice
- 2 Tbsp. kosher salt/li>
- 2 Tbsp. garlic, sliced thin
- ½ C. olive oil
- 2 Tbsp. shallots, minced
- 1 Tbsp. fresh thyme, minced
- 16 oz canned San Marzano tomatoes, crushed with liquid
Squash Ragout Preparation:
In a bowl toss zucchini with salt to coat evenly. Place into a strainer and cover with paper towels. Place a weight on top and let drain at room temperature for 4 hrs and discard liquid. Lay out zucchini on a sheet tray and roast at 400? until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
In a small sauce pan heat the olive heat over low heat, and then add garlic. Cook slowly until garlic is golden brown. Remove the garlic from the oil and drain on paper towels.
Heat a sauté pan until almost smoking. Working in batches, add 1 Tb of the garlic oil, then 1 cup of the zucchini. Sauté briefly to caramelize, then add a tsp of thyme, a tsp of the cooked garlic and ¼ cup of tomato. Repeat until all of the zucchini has been sautéed.
Combine in a medium sauce pan and bring to a simmer for about 20 minutes or until thickened. Season to taste with salt.
To Serve:
Place one teaspoon of pasta mix on a soup spoon. Top with 1/2 teaspoon of ragout and finally a piece of shaved Parmesan Reggiano. Repeat to make desired number of servings.
