Bite with Belkys: Cavatelli Pasta from Casa Tua

The Chef: Paolo del Papa
The Restaurant: Casa Tua
The Dish: Cavatelli Pasta

Ingredients for Pasta:

1/2 lb. of Italian flour
yolk of 3 eggs
3 oz. of parmesan cheese, grated
1 pinch of salt
1/2 lb. of ricotta cheese
Instruments needed:
Pasta machine
Cavatelli machine

Method of Preparation:

- At the restaurant, they start by making their own fresh cavatelli pasta. In a bowl, add imported flour from Italy, egg yolk, parmesan cheese, a pinch of salt and ricotta cheese.

- Mix it all together and allow the dough to rest at room temperature, covered or wrapped in plastic, for about 30 minutes. Then, shape the dough into a ball, cut it in quarters, press it through a pasta machine and cut in it in strips.

- Next, pass the pasta strips through a cavatelli machine. At home, you can simply use your favorite store bought pasta.

- Lastly, cook the pasta in salted boiling water.

Ingredients for Sauce:

1 pint of cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 jar of tomato sauce
1 cup of roasted (or sun dried) grape tomato blend
10 leaves of fresh basil
extra virgin olive oil
salt

Method of Preparation:

- In a hot pan, add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add cherry tomatoes, salt, tomato sauce, a roasted grape tomato blend and let it reduce. A simple option at home is to just add the cherry tomatoes and your favorite tomato sauce.

- Next, combine the cooked pasta with the tomato sauce. After, add a little more salt, extra virgin olive oil, chopped basil and serve.

Serves: 4

Serving Suggestion: Sangiovese

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Casa Tua
1700 James Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 673-0973
www.casatualifestyle.com