On a latest go to to Tuscany, I got here dwelling with a head of the native sort of elephant garlic generally known as ‘aglione’ and a few Tuscan pici pasta. These two meals are the principle elements on this fabulous conventional dish, pici all’aglione, an elephant garlic pasta recipe that you could find on the desk in Tuscan properties and eating places while aglione is in season.
What’s aglione?
The title ‘aglione’ comes from the Italian phrase aglio, which suggests garlic. ‘Aglione’ interprets to massive garlic! Nevertheless, it’s really a sort of elephant garlic, primarily grown within the Val di Chiana and the Val D’Orcia, Tuscany.
It’s a a lot wanted native specialty as a result of provide is proscribed, and the season is brief simply June and July. Aglione from the Val Chiana can price as much as 40 euros per kilo (2.2lbs)!
However, neither aglione nor different forms of elephant garlic are literally garlic. Although each aromatics are a part of the allium genus, they belong to totally different species. Elephant garlic belongs to ampeloprasum, the identical species as leeks; garlic is from the species sativum.
How massive is aglione?
The scale and weight of aglione garlic can differ relying on numerous elements, resembling rising circumstances and the particular number of garlic used. Nevertheless, aglione is usually identified for its giant bulb dimension.
In actual fact, it’s a lot bigger than typical garlic bulbs discovered in lots of different varieties. By way of weight, a head of aglione garlic can weigh anyplace from 200g to 800g (7oz – 1.8lbs) and accommodates from 2 to six cloves.
So, the cloves are fairly massive too! The aglione bulb I used for this elephant garlic pasta weighed solely 200g, so a small one! And it had 4 cloves.
What does aglione style like?
Though smililar to garlic, aglione has a way more delicate and mellow flavour. I’d say it in all probability tastes nearer to leeks or gentle onions. Additionally, aglione doesn’t comprise alline, which not solely makes it extra digestible nevertheless it is not going to go away you with ‘garlic breath’! In actual fact, some Italians confer with it as ‘aglio degli innamorati’, lovers’ garlic!
Aglione or elephant garlic substitutes.
For those who don’t have aglione or different elephant garlic, you’ll be able to nonetheless make this pici all’aglione recipe utilizing one of many following..
Garlic: Since regular garlic has a stronger flavour, you’ll be able to both use much less garlic instead or sluggish prepare dinner the garlic to neutralize the flavour.
Leek: Leeks will present an analogous consistency to elephant garlic however if you happen to pair them with garlic, you’ll be capable to mimic the style of aglione extra carefully.
Onion: Onions and shallots are considerably comparable in flavour, however they could additionally profit from being paired with common garlic to repeat the flavour of elephant garlic.
Or develop your individual elephant garlic!
Apparently, elephant garlic is straightforward to develop, and the scapes are scrumptious too. So, chances are you’ll need to take into consideration rising your individual. Be taught extra about rising elephant garlic in this article from The Spruce.com
What’s pici pasta?
As talked about above, the pasta for this Tuscan elephant garlic pasta recipe is pici. Pici is a sort of thick spaghetti from Tuscany. It’s a conventional pasta selection that’s characterised by its lengthy, thick, and cylindrical form. Pici is often handmade by hand rolling small items of dough to create lengthy skinny strands.
The dough for pici pasta is made utilizing easy elements like flour, water, and typically a little bit olive oil. It’s kneaded till easy after which rolled out into skinny ropes. These ropes are then minimize into shorter lengths, normally round 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) lengthy.
I made this recipe twice utilizing contemporary and dried pici pasta which I introduced dwelling from Tuscany with me lately. Pici is almost all the time on the menu in most Tuscan eating places and is often home made, though the menu will typically say ‘hand rolled’ relating to describing this pasta.
Just a little pici all’aglione historical past.
In keeping with meals historical past, pici pasta was an ingredient utilized in peasant cooking and usually seasoned with breadcrumbs. The model with garlic sauce was a dish for celebrations, in fact with out tomatoes which weren’t utilized in Italian cooking till the 17th century. Apparently, proof of pici may even be seen within the ‘tomb of the leopards’, within the Etruscan necropolis of Tarquinia, making it one of many oldest forms of pasta.
What to make use of as a substitute of pici for this recipe.
Outdoors of Italy, pici pasta will not be as broadly identified or out there as another forms of pasta, however it may be present in sure Italian eating places or specialty meals shops.
Moreover, if you happen to get pleasure from making pasta from scratch, you’ll be able to strive making your individual at dwelling. Making pici is on my to-do record. However within the meantime, try the video beneath from Pasta Grannies.
Alternatively, this elephant garlic pasta recipe works nicely with thick spaghetti or bucatini.
What are the opposite elements in pici all’aglione?
To make this conventional Tuscan recipe, aside from the pici pasta (or thick spaghetti) and elephant garlic, all you want is a few olive oil, tomato passata or freshly peeled tomatoes and peperoncino. Nevertheless, the latter is elective. I added a little bit contemporary peperoncino (Italian crimson chili pepper). You can too use flakes.
The right way to make the elephant garlic pasta sauce.
Like many traditional Italian pasta recipes that decision for only a handful of elements, this recipe is straightforward to make.
Step one is to peel and chop the aglione. The recipe I adopted known as for one clove per particular person, so I used the entire garlic head which had 4 cloves. Additionally, you will want to cut the crimson chili pepper if utilizing a contemporary one. And peel and chop the tomatoes if utilizing contemporary too.
Cook dinner’s Tip. The chilli pepper is elective. However, if you happen to do use it, don’t put an excessive amount of as you’ll overwhelm the opposite flavours. Eradicating the seeds will make the peperoncino much less spicy.
Subsequent, sauté the aglione and chilli pepper in a little bit olive oil simply till the garlic begins to melt. Then add a little bit water. Cowl the pan and let the aglione prepare dinner slowly on a low warmth till it’s actually comfortable. (About quarter-hour).
Each couple of minutes, mash the aglione with a fork and add extra water if mandatory. You don’t need it to brown. It ought to get creamy.
As soon as the aglione is comfortable and creamy, add the tomato passata (or peeled tomatoes), some salt and pepper and blend the whole lot collectively. Cowl the pan once more and simmer on a low warmth for about 20 minutes.
Cook dinner the pasta and serve.
Whereas the sauce is simmering, put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta. Add salt as soon as it begins to boil and convey to the boil once more.
Cook dinner’s tip: Italian cooks don’t add salt to chilly water as a result of it cannot solely spoil the pot, but additionally the water will take a little bit longer to boil. The salt is added because the water begins to boil.
Cook dinner the pasta al dente in keeping with the directions on the packet. Dried pici takes about 12 minutes, whereas contemporary pasta cooks lots faster.
Lastly drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the sauce. Combine the whole lot collectively gently over a low warmth. Then, serve instantly with some chopped contemporary basil or grated Pecorino Romano if required.
What to do with leftovers.
This pici pasta recipe is finest eaten instantly. Nevertheless, leftovers may be stored sealed within the fridge for a few days. You possibly can reheat your pici all’aglione 3 methods; within the microwave, in a frying pan with a little bit butter or olive oil or bake it within the oven with some grated cheese on prime. The latter is my favorite means!
I don’t advocate freezing any leftovers.
Let me know what you suppose.
Whether or not you make this elephant garlic pasta recipe as a comforting weeknight dinner or serve it at a special day, I’m positive you’ll benefit from the mixture of rustic appeal and mouthwatering flavours.
Pici all’aglione is a beloved traditional Italian dish that showcases the timeless flavours of Tuscany and exemplifies the artwork of Italian cooking at its easy finest!
For those who do do this recipe, I’d love to listen to what you suppose. Please write a remark right here on the weblog or put up a touch upon the Pasta Project Facebook page.
Your suggestions means lots to me!
Buon appetito!
Pin for later.
Different straightforward traditional Italian pasta recipes.
- Genuine carbonara from Rome.
- Orecchiette with roasted cherry tomatoes.
- Canned tuna pasta recipe from The Aeolian Islands.
- Penne with gorgonzola and olives.
- Pasta with tomato sauce allo scarpariello.
Elephant Garlic Pasta (Pici all’Aglione).
Pici all’aglione is a traditional vegan Italian pasta recipe made with elephant garlic and tomatoes. It is easy to make and severely scrumptious. This recipe showcases the timeless flavours of Tuscany and exemplifies the artwork of Italian cooking at its easy finest!
Tools
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1 deep skillet for sauce
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1 giant pot for pasta
Substances
- 14 oz pici pasta (contemporary or dried) or thick spaghetti or bucatini
- 14 oz tomato passata or contemporary peeled tomatoes
- 1 head elephant garlic or 4 cloves
- 2 tbsp additional virgin olive oil.
- salt for pasta and to style
- freshly floor black pepper. to style
- ½ contemporary crimson chilli pepper or flakes
- contemporary basil leaves elective
- Pecorino Romano elective
Directions
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Peel, chop and crush the aglione. Chop the crimson chili pepper if utilizing a contemporary one. And peel and chop the tomatoes if utilizing contemporary too.
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Sauté the aglione and chilli pepper in a little bit olive oil simply till the garlic begins to melt. Then add a little bit water. Cowl the pan and let the aglione prepare dinner slowly on a low warmth till it’s actually comfortable. (About quarter-hour).
-
Each couple of minutes, mash the aglione with a fork and add extra water if mandatory. You don’t need it to brown. It ought to get creamy.
-
As soon as the aglione is comfortable and creamy, add the tomato passata (or peeled tomatoes), some salt and pepper and blend the whole lot collectively. Cowl the pan once more and simmer on a low warmth for about 20 minutes.
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Whereas the sauce is simmering, put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta. Add salt as soon as it begins to boil and convey to the boil once more. Cook dinner the pasta al dente in keeping with the directions on the packet.
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Lastly drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the sauce. Combine the whole lot collectively gently over a low warmth. Then serve instantly with some chopped contemporary basil or grated Pecorino Romano if required.
Notes
As an alternative of elephant garlic see options within the textual content above.
Italian pecorino is made with animal rennet, so vegans and vegetarians might want to omit it when serving.
Diet
Energy: 269kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 8gFats: 8gSaturated Fats: 1gPolyunsaturated Fats: 1gMonounsaturated Fats: 5gSodium: 40mgPotassium: 526mgFiber: 4gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 560IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 3mg
In case you are fascinated about studying the way to make different home made pasta and several types of gnocchi, try my store web page for some nice video on-line programs from my pals in Rome! Nothing beats studying to make pasta from Italians! Plus whilst you’re there why not order a duplicate of one among my pasta recipe cookbooks or checkout some beneficial pasta making instruments?
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