Tuesday 27 March 2012

Linguine with Pancetta, Prawns and Rocket

You know how much I love pasta... I'd happily eat pasta for supper everyday. Pasta is just a great neutral starch on which to combine flavours and ingredients. I have been eating pasta for as long as I can remember and I have always considered pasta as one of the great pleasures of the table. There's something so satisfying about a big bowl piled high with pasta. Everyone can serves themselves and it's great as a side dish, or the main course. Plus, pasta is economical, what is not to like?

It's hard to choose on a single favourite pasta dish. I have several pasta dishes which I love: pasta puttanesca is perhaps the pasta dish I cook most often, followed by spaghetti with Marmite for lazy days.  On the weekend when I want to spend some quality time in the kitchen, I love making fresh pasta and 'proper' bolognese sauce. Or when I visit the fishmonger, I am always in the look for beautiful clams for linguine alla vongole.

I could go on and on, but let's focus on this linguine with pancetta, prawns and rocket.  This particular pasta dish is a proof of my indecisiveness and greediness. One evening, I could not decide whether to have linguine with garlic and pancetta, or to have linguine with prawns, chilli, lemon and rocket; so instead, I took the elements from both dishes and this is what I came up with...


Linguine with Pancetta, Prawns and Rocket
Recipe by Me
Serves 4

500 gr linguine
160 gr pancetta, cubed
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 fresh red chillies, finely
a knob of butter
250 gr raw king prawns
1/2 cup of white wine
juice of 1 lemon or to taste
a handful of rocket leaves
Salt and pepper to taste

Now, instead of reading the instructions on how to cook this pasta dish, you can watch me cook it. So, it's true, I am a real human. This blog is not run by a robot... just a lunatic. I hope you enjoy the video. Credit to my friend Jacky who is the camera operator and the editor of the video. I am his puppet.

20 comments:

  1. Ha ha! You're a natural! You know there's a small Pasta Museum in Rome? It's the most niche museum I ever went to, one for the true obsessive!

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    1. Thank you so much! Now, that's my kind of museum! I will be definitely be visiting next time I'm going to Rome.

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  2. Regrettably my computer generally refuses to play attached videos like yours. After it gets through about 1 minute it just gives up. It's okay, I know how to cook this. It is nice to see you up close and personal.

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    1. Thanks Stephen. I know, this pasta dish certainly isn't difficult to make :)

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  3. Love the video. Aren't you just a natural!! I agree re pasta. Love it but I don't eat it that often which is odd. I guess I need the inspiration from your video!!

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  4. You also have the most perfect teeth!

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    1. Thanks Dom!! That is my other obsession: perfect teeth.

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  5. Love the video Michael! It's nice to see more than just a picture!
    I too am a lover of pasta... and could eat it daily..it is the perfect food in my book! This dish looks and sounds wonderful. I don't use pancetta enough.. need to fix that!

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    1. thanks Jenn! Yep, I could eat it everyday and would not complain. Pancetta is a must have in my fridge :)

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  6. What a great idea combining the two Michael! I can get very indecisive at times too :) Fabulous video too!

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    1. Thank you Lorraine. Making decisions aren't easy, right? Especially when it comes to food, I think. Solution: I want everything.

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  7. I am going to make some pasta for dinner too! Yours looks so good with prawns and pancetta! Thanks for sharing the video too.

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    1. Than you Angie. Hope you enjoyed your pasta dinner.

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  8. Hi Michael-I just loved, loved your video! You are so adorable, handsome, and natural with your skills. I watched the entire film, and absolutely love this shrimp, pancetta, arugula, over the linguine!
    I will certainly make this dish...could just smell the amazing aroma!
    Thanks for sharing, you are a STAR:DDD

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    1. Thanks Elisabeth for your kind comments. I am blushing. I will be checking out your pasta dish shortly! Glad you loved it.

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  9. Michael, I'm back again, to let you know that I made your amazing shrimp dish the next day...I just posted it, and linked it back to you.
    It turned out super amazing...just wanted to let you know!
    Thanks, for sharing...check it out!
    Hugs,

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  10. Delicious pasta dish Michael, I love the combination of pancetta and prawns...nice video as well.
    Hope you have a wonderful week :)

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  11. I had to pop over and check out Lizzie's inspiration for her latest post! This looks so fabulous...I need to try it, too~

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  12. Michael, the video is fantastic! I could smell the aroma of garlic and pancetta through my screen. Your friend Jacky deserves a big credit for her job too. Well done!

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  13. Michael, thanks so much for dropping by my blog and checking out my Random Recipes selection - I really appreciate it. And I share your love of pasta ;) This linguine looks delicious - especially with the added rocket... This couldn't be my favorite pasta dish because it's missing cheese, but still marvelous ;)

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