Malloreddus with Mushroom Sauce

 Ingredients: Pasta: durum wheat semolina, room temperature water, salt. Sauce: mushrooms, oil, tomatoes chopped in tomato juice, salt, pepper.

To prepare a delicious dish of homemade pasta, we start by mixing flour with a pinch of salt, gradually adding water until the mixture begins to come together and forms a smooth dough. It is essential that the dough is kneaded well for about 10-15 minutes until it becomes elastic and smooth. You will notice that during kneading, the dough lightens slightly and forms small air bubbles, which, although not visible to the naked eye, can be heard when they burst under the pressure of your fingers. This elasticity is crucial for the texture of the pasta, so do not skip this important step. After kneading, cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes in a warm place in the kitchen, which will help the gluten relax.

Once the dough has rested, break off a piece the size of a golf ball and shape it into a thick roll of about 0.5 cm, making sure that the length does not exceed 15 cm. This roll is then cut into pieces the size of a bean. Each piece will be gently pressed with the thumb onto a gnocchi mold, or even the back of a grater, to give it the necessary texture, forming ridges that will help the sauce adhere better. It is important that these pasta pieces are rolled slightly to take on a round shape. After you have finished shaping all the pasta, let them dry on a wooden board or on a cotton napkin, sprinkled with flour, for a few hours or even days, as they do not contain eggs and will not spoil.

When the pasta is ready, boil it in a pot of salted water with a splash of oil, which will prevent it from sticking. Cook the pasta until it is 'al dente', meaning until it rises to the surface. After boiling, drain it and keep a bit of the water in which it boiled, to use in making the sauce.

For the sauce, sauté the mushrooms in a pan with a little oil or butter, adding diced tomatoes and a bit of water from the pasta. Let the sauce simmer until the liquid reduces and becomes more concentrated. Season with salt and pepper, being careful not to add too much salt since the pasta water is already salty. Once the sauce is ready, add the cooked pasta and mix well to coat them evenly with the delicious sauce. Serve immediately to enjoy the perfect texture of the pasta and the rich flavors of the sauce. This simple yet flavorful recipe will turn any meal into a true culinary celebration!

 Tags:  tomatoes oil mushrooms lactose-free recipes vegetarian recipes