This rigatoni pasta recipe with shallots and guanciale is predicated on a conventional dish from Emilia-Romagna, the place they domesticate candy Romagna shallots. It is easy to make, extraordinarily tasty and, after all you should use different forms of shallots too!

Rigatoni con scalogno di Romagna é guanciale.
One of many many issues I really like about Italy is that each Italian area is well-known for the cultivation, manufacturing and processing of sure meals. Some merchandise or crops are explicit to just one or two areas (assume Gorgonzola cheese). Others are grown or produced largely solely within the South (tomatoes) or the North (risotto rice). A number of could be discovered all through virtually all of the Italian peninsula (olive oil).


Meals from Emilia-Romagna.
The Emilia-Romagna area produces fairly numerous well-loved meals. Most Italian meals lovers will know Parmiggiano Reggiano, balsamic vinegar from Modena or Prosciutto di Parma (Parma ham).
However, this area can be well-known for greens comparable to asparagus, garlic and shallots. The latter often called Scalogno di Romagna (Romagna shallots) are a sort of shallot that’s grown in solely 3 areas in Emilia-Romagna; within the provinces of Bologna, Forli and Ravenna.


Extra about Romagna Shallots.
The Scalogno di Romagna is a pear-shaped shallot that’s stated to have originated in Palestine. Nonetheless, shallots have been cultivated in Italy for five,000 years. Apparently the traditional Romans preferred them! The Romagna shallot is a purplish white shade. However, it’s wrapped in an exterior pores and skin of various colours,from copper to reddish brown.
The style of those shallots is certainly explicit, stronger and extra aromatic than that of an onion and sweeter than garlic. This makes it very versatile on a gastronomic stage. The truth is, it’s used lots within the regional delicacies and infrequently included in pasta recipes like this rigatoni pasta with shallots and guanciale (pork cheek/jowl).


The Pasta.
For this shallot pasta recipe, I used dried rigatoni. Rigatoni is a sort of pasta tube with grooves or ridges that run down the size of every tube. The truth is, the title rigatoni comes from the Italian ‘rigate’ that means ridged, grooved or lined. This can be a fashionable pasta all through Italy, however significantly in Sicily and in Rome.
Nonetheless, you too can use different pasta sorts with this shallot primarily based sauce. In Emilia-Romagna, you could find pasta with shallots made with garganelli or flat egg pastas like tagliolini, often called curzul within the native dialect, or tagliatelle, one other well-known Emilia-Romagna meals product.


Rigatoni Pasta with Romagna shallots.
There are a couple of completely different variations of pasta with Romagna shallots. Some embody tomatoes (canned tomatoes or recent), particularly if made with out meat. The truth is, the best model is made with simply pasta, Romagna shallots and tomatoes!
Different variations could embody pancetta or guanciale with or with out tomatoes. I used tomatoes and guanciale. Guanciale is cured pork jowl or cheek and is the star ingredient of numerous basic pasta recipes comparable to carbonara, alla gricia and amatriciana. In fact, you should use pancetta as a substitute. A light Italian sausage would additionally work properly on this recipe.


What’s the distinction between guanciale and pancetta?
Chances are you’ll ask what’s the distinction between pancetta and guanciale. Firstly, value and availability. Pancetta is normally simpler to search out and prices much less (even right here in Italy). However, each are unsmoked cured pork. Pancetta comes from the stomach and guanciale from the jowl or cheek.
Guanciale positively has a stronger style than pancetta. Nonetheless, it’s softer and extra delicate and the fats typically melts away giving extra flavour to the dish. Having stated that, pancetta is scrumptious too and higher if you’d like crispy items in your dish!
Making this Rigatoni pasta with shallots.
Though this dish is historically made with Romagna shallots, you should use different forms of shallots. Search for candy ones. I wouldn’t advocate onions although!
Other than the shallots, tomatoes, and guanciale (pork cheek/jowl) or pancetta all you want is a few further virgin olive oil, white wine, tomato focus (tomato paste), grated Parmigiano (parmesan cheese) and, after all, the pasta!


Step-by-step directions.
1) Put together the components; peel and thinly slice the shallots, reduce the guanciale into skinny brief strips and wash the cherry tomatoes and halve them.
2) Sauté the shallots and guanciale in a little bit olive oil over a medium warmth till the shallots soften and the guanciale fats begins to soften and brown barely.
3) Add the white wine and let the alcohol evaporate. Then add the tomato focus and a little bit water. Combine the whole lot collectively.
4) Add the cherry tomatoes. Cook dinner lined over a low warmth for about 20 minutes.


5) Whereas the sauce is cooking, put a big pot of water onto boil for the rigatoni. Add salt as soon as it begins to boil and produce to the boil once more. Cook dinner the rigatoni al dente based on the directions on the bundle.


6) Save a few of the pasta water and drain the pasta. Add it to the shallot sauce. Combine the whole lot collectively over a low warmth. If the sauce appears dry, add a few of the pasta cooking water.
7) Serve your rigatoni pasta with shallots instantly with grated Parmigiano and, optionally, some crushed crimson pepper flakes (peperoncino) if you would like to spice it up a bit.


What to do with leftovers.
You may hold any leftover rigatoni with shallots in a sealed container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Leftovers are scrumptious baked with a sprinkling of extra parmesan cheese on prime. You may also reheat the pasta and shallot sauce within the microwave. I do not advocate freezing this dish.
Pin for later.


A fast and simple rigatoni recipe.
This can be a fast, simple and scrumptious recipe that may be made in virtually the time it takes to boil the water and prepare dinner your pasta. Excellent for busy weeknights and while you don’t wish to spend a lot time within the kitchen!
Like many different easy Italian pasta recipes, rigatoni pasta with shallots and guanciale is extremely tasty regardless of the few components. I’m positive you’ll agree when you strive it!
Should you make this pasta with shallots recipe, I’d love to listen to the way it seems and when you preferred it. So, please depart a remark right here on the weblog or on The Pasta Undertaking Fb web page.
Wanting ahead to listening to from you!
Buon appetito!
Another pasta dishes from Emilia-Romagna
- Tagliatelle Bolognese
- Lasagne al forno with Bolognese
- Garganelli alla Zingara
- Baked Passatelli with pancetta and pine nuts
- Gramigna with sausage
Save this recipe for later?
If you wish to save this recipe for later, you may print it, bookmark this web page or put it aside to Pinterest.
Pin for Later!


Reader Interactions