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Recipe for green Apulian Orecchiette
October 11, 2023
The Puglia Orecchiette recipe is a classic of "Made in Puglia" fresh pasta, especially in the city of Bari.
In fact, if you stroll around the old town, you can still see the housewives sitting in front of their houses and using their hands to prepare this delicious traditional dish.
Let's discover the ingredients and preparation of the Apulian orecchiette, but in the "green" version with the addition of organic moringa powder, a unique ingredient with many nutritional properties.
The spread of orecchiette in Puglia, especially in Bari, occurred between the 12th and 13th centuries.
They were also called "strascinati" ("strasc'nat" in dialect), due to the habit of dragging the dough along the table with your finger to obtain the typical concave and round shape.
Orecchiette are a characteristic type of fresh pasta throughout Puglia and have generally been made since the Middle Ages with durum wheat semolina flour from the Tavoliere region.
The reason for their shape is practical: the central depression facilitated drying in times of food shortages and thus accelerated preservation.
The name The "Orecchiette" was also confirmed in their name by a notarial deed from 1500 (found in the archives of the church of San Nicola). This document was about the transfer of a bakery, in which the owner, with regard to his daughter as heiress, specified the preparation of the famous "recchjetedde" as a dowry.
(Source: Il giornaledelcibo.it)
Green Apulian orecchiette, the recipe
@_paleat presents on his Instagram profile in the "Food" section the recipe for Puglian Orecchiette, made with our organic Moringa Oleifera powder.
An authentic and tasty dish that honors tradition without altering it, with a healthy and tempting "green" touch.
Ingredients for 4 persons:
400 g durum wheat semolina flour;
200 g lukewarm water;
4 teaspoons moringa;
250 g yellow cherry tomatoes;
extra virgin olive oil;
Stracciatella (a type of cheese);
Salt;
Basil;
Preparation
In a bowl, mix the durum wheat flour with the RedMoringa moringa powder, mix everything well and then add lukewarm water. Knead the dough thoroughly until it forms a round and smooth shape.
Then shape your orecchiette following the instructions in the video.
To make the sauce, fry the olive oil in a pan with a clove of garlic and when the garlic is slightly golden brown, add the yellow cherry tomatoes.
Cook the tomatoes for about 5 minutes, then season to taste with salt. If you wish, add plenty of basil leaves, then add the orecchiette cooked al dente to the pan and toss, finally add the stracciatella cheese.
Moringa properties
Moringa is a plant that originally comes from the Himalayas and is now also grown in Europe.
It has been known for centuries for its exceptional nutritional properties.
In fact, it contains all the essential amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, the B vitamins that promote digestion, as well as:
7 times more vitamin C than oranges;
17 times more calcium than milk;
4 times more beta carotene than carrots.
Rich in natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds such as quercetin, it has cholesterol-lowering and blood sugar-lowering effects and improves the body's overall well-being.
Stracciatella, what kind of cheese is this?
Stracciatella is a variant of burrata, made from small pieces of mozzarella that are mixed with fresh cream.
With its fibrous, delicate consistency and fresh taste, stracciatella is a light cheese with a string structure, typical of Puglia: it is worth noting that 100 g contains only 270 kcal and represents a protein-rich and very nutritious food.
(Source: assolatte.it)
Basil properties
Basil is an aromatic plant from the mint family (Lamiaceae).
Originally from Iran, it is now found throughout the Mediterranean region and is an important part of many traditional dishes.
It has anti-inflammatory, stimulating, digestive, antispasmodic properties and is a good source of water as well as vitamins A, C, E, B6, K, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin and pantothenic acid. It also contains minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, copper, calcium, iron, manganese and zinc.
Additionally, it contains flavonoids, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin and lutein/zeaxanthin, as well as an essential oil rich in various compounds such as eugenol, which has antibacterial properties.
(Source: humanitas.it)
Nutritional values of durum wheat semolina flour
Durum wheat semolina flour is a common type of flour in the south of Italy, whose coarse-grained structure is clearly visible when touched. It is mainly used to make pasta due to its better resistance when cooking.
It is relatively rich in proteins and has a higher satiating power compared to type 00 flour. Its yellow color is due to the carotenoids it contains. It also contains good amounts of B vitamins, making it particularly easy to digest. Minerals include potassium, iron and phosphorus, and it has a lower glycemic index due to the complex carbohydrates.
Another special feature of durum wheat semolina flour is the gradual and long-lasting release of energy, which is due to the complex carbohydrates.
(Source: greenme.it)
Properties of yellow tomatoes
Yellow tomatoes are characterized by their sweetness and versatility in the kitchen.
They are rich in beta-carotene, water, fiber and minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium and iron. The "golden tomatoes" also have a high content of antioxidant substances.
It appears that originally all tomatoes were yellow, rather than red, and for this reason the yellow tomatoes are now considered a "gourmet" food. They are also used to soften strong flavors such as chili, season fish and seafood.