Whipped-Feta Saccottini in Brodo.
Pink Pasta for all the lovebirds out there.
"Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning." - Paulo Coelho, writer
Sorry for this cheesy quote but I just recently had my first child and I am so full of love... for my husband too of course. Anyway, we love pasta in brodo, no matter what shapes and colors. It is such a simple and satisfying dish that promises warmth from within, especially in the colder months. These homemade saccottini are a little more involved to make, I'll admit. But isn't Valentine's Day, which is coming up soon, the perfect occasion to surprise your loved ones with something special? I think so and the effort is also worth it... I mean how beautiful do these saccottini look! Your lovers, best friends and all the ones you care for will definitvely love it!
What you'll need for 2 people:
- 200g flour
- 1 egg
- 1-2 tbsp beet juice*
- 170g feta cheese
- 2-3 tbsp greek yogurt
- 1/2 lemon (zest, no juice)
- pepper to taste
*Little side note on the beet juice: I hate beet, always have as it tastes like soil to me, but you absolutely don't taste it in your pasta dough. So go ahead and try it anyway!
Start withe the pink pasta dough. Mix flour, eggs, beet juice and salt together and knead, knead, knead. I start by mixing the eggs and the juice with just a little flour and then slowly add more and more until I feel that I have the right consistency. The dough should be really smooth and elastic, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes of thorough kneading.
For the filling put the feta in a bowl with the yogurt and mix until you get a creamy consistency. Add the lemon zest and a little pepper and mix again. Taste it to see if you like the filling and make sure it has a smooth consistency but is not too liquid before you start with the next step.
Okay, like I said, shaping saccottini takes some practice, but you'll get there!
Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 0.5-1 mm (kitchen aid attachment, no. 5) and cut it into squares with sides of about 6 cm.
Put a blob of filling in the center of the square. Take it in your hands and press the long sides together in the middle. Now fold the tips to the center as well. Since it is impossible to describe this folding technique correctly, find a small how-to video below.
Congratulations on your effort to make these beautiful Saccottini. The last step is simple. Cook the saccottini in vegetable broth for about 3 minutes and serve them to your loved ones.... Buon appetito!
Love, Carmen