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Pasta with Creamy Leek and Potato Sauce and Crispy Speck

17/11/2023

Here is an Italian twist on a dish that combines the sweetness of leeks and potatoes with the saltiness of crispy speck.

Ingredients

  • 320 g of pasta (penne or fusilli will work well)
  • 2 medium-sized leeks
  • 2 medium-sized potatoes
  • 100 g of thin slices of speck
  • 200 ml of cream
  • 50 ml of vegetable broth (you could substitute with chicken broth if you prefer)
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)
  • Grated parmesan (optional, to serve)

Preparation

  1. Begin by cleaning the leeks, cutting away the tougher green part and the root, then make a lengthwise cut and rinse them under running water to remove any soil. After rinsing, thinly slice the leeks.
  2. Peel the potatoes and cut them into rather small pieces.
  3. In a large pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and add the sliced leeks with a pinch of salt. Let them wilt over low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Add the potatoes to the leeks, pour in the vegetable broth and let it cook on a medium-low flame until the potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes (if necessary, add a bit of water to prevent it from drying out too much).
  5. While the leek and potato mixture is cooking, cut the speck slices into strips and toast them in a non-stick pan without adding any fats until they become crispy. Then set them aside.
  6. Once the potatoes are ready, use an immersion blender (or a mixer) to blend everything into a cream. Put the cream back on the heat and add the cream, adjusting for salt and pepper. If the cream seems too thick, you can thin it with some pasta cooking water.
  7. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente according to the package instructions.
  8. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water, and transfer it to the pan with the leek and potato cream. If necessary, add some cooking water to make it creamy.
  9. Plate the pasta, adding the crispy speck strips on top of each serving.
  10. If you like, sprinkle with grated parmesan before serving.

Curiosity

Speck is a typical product from the Alto Adige region in Italy, and is distinguished by its smoky notes and the characteristic aging process that combines salt, aromas, and smoking. The crispy texture adds a pleasant variation to the texture of the dish.