Bow Tie Pasta with Cabbage Pancetta and Cheese

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This dish has moved from beta testing and is now firmly ensconced in that part of my recipe collection reserved for visiting grandsons. The older crew have always been good eaters, but their palates are developing and they are starting to appreciate theme and variation in their meals. I know they'll love the way this dish that takes old and familiar ingredients and mixes them in a way that is completely new to them. The combination of noodles and cabbage is found in many cuisines, but I think Jamie Oliver's unique presentation of this dish stands heads and shoulders above the others that I've tried. As a child, I became familiar with Krautfleckerl and Haluski thanks to our German and Polish neighbors. I happened to love both preparations, but over the years cabbage lost its cache and wasn't often served on American tables. It is experiencing a bit of a resurgence now thanks to influence of the fresh and local food movement. There would be converts aplenty if everyone could taste Oliver's creation. This dish is not inexpensive to prepare. It uses pancetta and I know there will be a temptation to use blanched bacon in its place. Try not to do that. Blanched bacon taste like blanched bacon and the unique flavor of pancetta is important to the success of this dish. Slivered almonds, however, can be used in place of pine nuts, which, for reason I will never understand, have become ridiculously expensive and worthy of a king's ransom. Obviously, buffalo mozzarella would be wonderful in this dish, but any decent fresh mozzarella will work well as a stand-in. If you are looking for something a bit different to tease your appetite and palate, I think you'll really enjoy this combination. Here's the recipe.

Bow Tie Pasta with Cabbage, Pancetta and Cheese...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite inspired by Jamie Oliver

Ingredients:

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 pound thinly sliced pancetta

3 tablespoons pine nuts

2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1 garlic clove, minced

1 head of Savoy cabbage (about 1 3/4 pounds)—tough outer leaves discarded, cabbage quartered, cored and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch ribbons

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 pound bowtie pasta (farfalle)

7 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch dice

Directions:

1) Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large, deep nonstick skillet. Add pancetta and cook over moderate heat, turning once, until golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer pancetta to a cutting board and coarsely chop. Strain the fat through a fine sieve; wipe out the skillet and pour fat back into it.

2) Add pine nuts to skillet and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until golden, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer nuts to a plate. Add thyme and garlic to the skillet and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.

3) Add cabbage and toss to coat with drippings. Cover and cook over moderately low heat until wilted, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add water and

Parmesan, cover, and cook until the cabbage is tender, about 10 minutes.

4) Meanwhile, cook pasta in boiling salted water until al dente. Drain pasta and shake dry, then return it to pot. Add cabbage, mozzarella, pancetta, pine nuts and remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil and toss until cheese is slightly melted. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and serve. Yield: 6 to 8 servings.

This post is being linked to Presto Pasta Nights which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this week. Congratulations Ruth!