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Pasta with Potato Cream and Speck

17/11/2023

Pasta with potato cream and speck is a delicious first course that combines the sweetness of potatoes with the saltiness of speck. Here is the recipe for preparing this dish:

Ingredients

  • 320 g of pasta (penne, fusilli, or another shape of your preference)
  • 2 medium potatoes
  • 100 g of speck, cut into strips
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt
  • Black pepper (optional)
  • Grated Parmesan cheese (to taste)
  • Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish, optional)
  • Pasta cooking water as needed

Preparation

  1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into evenly sized cubes. Put them in a pot with salted water and bring to a boil. Cook until the potatoes have softened.
  2. Meanwhile, in a non-stick pan, sauté the speck with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a whole clove of garlic, which you will later remove.
  3. Drain the potatoes, keeping a little bit of the cooking water, and remove the garlic. Mash the potatoes or use a food mill to obtain a purée.
  4. Put the potato purée back into the pot, add some of the reserved potato cooking water to obtain a smooth and even cream. If necessary, adjust for salt and pepper.
  5. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water according to the package instructions to achieve al dente texture.
  6. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water. Transfer the pasta to the pan with the speck and mix adding the potato cream.
  7. If the mixture is too thick, add a little pasta cooking water until the desired consistency is reached.
  8. Serve hot, garnished with chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese to taste.

Curiosity

Potato cream is an excellent way to add creaminess to many pasta dishes, and the pairing with speck is typically Italian, where the sweet and salty contrast enhances the flavors. Speck, typical of South Tyrol, is a smoked cured ham that gives the dish a unique smoky taste.

Wine recommended: A fresh white wine with good acidity such as a Pinot Bianco or a Sauvignon from South Tyrol can pair well with the sweetness of the potatoes and the strong flavor of speck.

Pasta with Potato Cream and Speck