By October, autumn is in full swing: the evenings get cooler, the scent of fireplaces begins to drift through the villages, and at the table there is a renewed desire for rich, enveloping and comforting flavors. In Basilicata, this season goes hand in hand with fresh Lucanica sausage, the undisputed queen of our culinary tradition with its unmistakable wild fennel aroma. We have paired it with strascinati and, of course, our Senise PGI Cruschi Peppers: a classic first course that is truly finger-licking good!
Ingredients (serves 4)
Senise PGI Cruschi Peppers: 8-10 whole peppers
Fresh Lucanica sausage: 350 g
Strascinati pasta made with Italian durum wheat semolina: 380 g
Dry white wine: ½ glass (for deglazing)
Extra virgin olive oil: to taste
Garlic: 1 clove
Grated Podolico Caciocavallo (or Lucano Pecorino): to taste
Salt and pepper: to taste
Preparation
Prepare the Lucanica: Remove the casing from the fresh sausage and crumble it by hand or with a fork.
The white ragù: In a large pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil with a whole garlic clove. Add the sausage and brown it over high heat until golden and flavorful. Deglaze with the white wine, allow the alcohol to evaporate, then reduce the heat and cook for about 10-12 minutes (remove the garlic halfway through).
The secret of the Cruschi: In a separate small pan, fry the Tenuta Padì Cruschi Peppers in plenty of hot extra virgin olive oil for just a few seconds. Drain them, let them cool for a moment to make them extra crispy, and then break them into large pieces by hand.
Cook and toss the pasta: Cook the ridged strascinati in plenty of salted water, drain al dente, and add them directly to the pan with the Lucanica ragù. Add a ladle of pasta cooking water and toss over high heat for one minute so the sauce coats the ridges of the pasta.
The crispy touch: Turn off the heat, add most of the broken Cruschi Peppers, and toss quickly (just a few seconds so they don't lose their crunch!). Plate up, sprinkle with grated Caciocavallo, and top with the remaining cruschi. Serve immediately and enjoy the magic!
