Peppered Pasta with Ramps
This dish is so darned simple, but will pack such a punch, that you will be hearing from your guests for some time that there must be some other secret to the success of the dish. Shhhh…only you have to know that you were able to make such simple ingredients sing so well! Mum’s the word!
Servings Prep Time
4people 30minutes
Servings Prep Time
4people 30minutes
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Cook pasta per directions on the package until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain pasta; toss pasta with enough olive oil to prevent sticking.
  2. Rinse ramps, or whichever substitute you are using. Slice into 1/4 inch slices, separating the green and the white portions. Dice parsley and set aside.
  3. Heat large nonstick pan over medium high heat. Drizzle with olive oil and heat just until the oil begins to smoke. Toss pasta in pan until heated through and the pasta just begins to brown, about 2 minutes.
  4. Add white parts of ramps, stirring frequently until it begins to soften, about 2 minutes.
  5. Stir in the white wine, which will immediately bubble up and begin to burn off the alcohol in the wine. Stir in Parmesan until pasta is coated. Add the green portions of the ramps and allow to soften, about 1 minute. Top with parsley, and salt & pepper to taste.
Recipe Notes

As mentioned above, if you can find ramps, you won’t be sorry. If it’s one of the months of the year when finding them is impossible, scallions (green onions) or baby leeks work very well. I’ve used both, and it’s a matter of taste. The scallions will have a more pronounced onion flavor, while the leeks will be more mild.

This dish makes a fantastic first course for a multi-course meal.  The Italians generally start with a salty bite (see yesterday’s post), then the pasta course, and the on to the main course of meat of some sort (that’s tomorrow!).  And of course, no meal is complete without a sweet finish, which we’ll get to as well.  This pasta is just enough for that first course and gets your guests going with the full wine dinner experience.  Fantastico!