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Try this veal-stuffed pasta dish

Steal this recipe for agnolotti dal plin from Perbacco Ristorante in S.F.

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updated 3:28 p.m. ET April 9, 2007

Phil Lempert
TODAY Food Editor

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In this special weekly feature, TODAY food editor Phil Lempert brings you recipes “stolen” (with permission) from notable restaurants across America. See how much fun you can have (and money you can save) by cooking these dishes at home.

THIS WEEK: Agnolotti dal Plin from Perbacco Ristorante & Bar in San Francisco, Calif.

Perbacco is an Italian word used to accentuate positive comments, to express pleasure or surprise and is a reference to Bacchus, the God of Wine and "good times." And that's definitely what you'll feel like saying after you try this dish out: Agnolotti dal Plin from Perbacco Ristorante & Bar. For those of you who've never tried it, Agnolotti dal Plin is a small pocket of light tasty pasta and in this case it's stuffed with veal and Savoy cabbage and pinched at the end. The Savoy cabbage used in this recipe is similar to your everyday supermarket variety, but has a milder flavor. Delicious! One bite and your guests will marvel at your pasta making skills!

About the chef: When asked why a Swedish-born chef would choose to open an authentic Italian restaurant, Staffan Terje of Perbacco in San Francisco replies, “Italian food is the food that talks to me. You don’t choose who you fall in love with. It just happens.” Raised on a farm outside of Stockholm, Terje discovered his passion for food at an early age.

After several years working in Stockholm and at restaurants all around Europe, Terje moved to Napa in 1986 where the lure of Italian cuisine called, and joined the original Piatti in Yountville, located in the Napa Valley. “We were doing some of the most authentic Italian food in the area,” says Terje. Being in Napa brought back memories of his childhood on the farm. “At the restaurant we used produce from small farms and sometimes even people’s back yards.” he remembers. Inspired by the vast array of local products, he began to form the philosophy of sourcing ingredients from small farms that he still follows today. Promoted quickly, he was soon responsible for new restaurant openings, menu development and training. Other career highlights include a seven-year stint at San Francisco’s Scala’s Bistro and cooking at The James Beard house in New York City.

Terje continues his philosophy of buying produce from small, local farmers, and feature items on a menu that changes daily. “Our dishes will highlight the seasonal produce available from the farmers market at the Ferry Plaza supporting the local growers,” he says, adding, “It’s the right thing to do.”

Perbacco Ristorante & Bar
230 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
415-955-0663

Agnolotti dal Plin

The recipe is for a serving size of eight.

Agnolotti dal Plin is served at Perbacco Ristorante & Bar for $12 for a half order and $17 for a full order.

INGREDIENTS

Dough ingredients

3 cups Italian “00” flour or all-purpose flour
5 whole large eggs, plus 5 egg yolks

Filling ingredients

2 tablespoon butter
1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
1 sprig fresh rosemary, leaves only
2 pounds roasted veal shoulder or breast, chopped in food processor
2 cups Savoy cabbage, cut into 1" pieces
1/2 cup reduced veal or beef broth
1 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste (1 pinch)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Recipe continues below ↓
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DIRECTIONS

Dough Steal This Recipe® step-by-step Instructions

1. Sift together and then mound 3 cups of the flour in the center of a large wooden cutting board

2. Make a well in the middle of the flour and add the eggs

3. Using a fork beat together the eggs and begin to incorporate the flour, starting with the inner rim of the well

4. As you expand the well, keep pushing the flour up from the base of the mound to retain the well shape

5. The dough will come together when half of the flour is incorporated

6. Start kneading the dough with both hands, using the palms of your hands

7. Knead for about 15 minutes, adding any of the remaining flour if necessary to create a cohesive mass

8. Once you have a cohesive mass, remove the dough from the board and scrape up and discard any leftover bits

9. Lightly reflour the board and continue kneading for 6 more minutes

10. The dough should be elastic and a little sticky

11. Wrap the dough in plastic and allow to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature

Filling Steal This Recipe® step-by-step Instructions

1. In a 12-inch saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of butter over high heat until hot but not smoking

2. Add the garlic and rosemary, and let cook until the garlic is light golden brown, about 5 minutes

3. Add the veal, and cook for about 8 to 10 minutes

4. Season with salt and pepper, to taste (do not be afraid to let the meat begin to caramelize a bit)

5. In a fitting pot, melt the remaining butter

6. Add Savoy cabbage and 1/4 cup of water

7. Cover with a lid and cook until cabbage is very tender

8. Chop in food processor until almost smooth

9. Let the veal cool until room temperature, then place in a large mixing bowl

10. Stir in the Parmigiano, Savoy cabbage, veal broth, a pinch of nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste

11. Use a wooden spoon to mix until well combined

12. Set aside

Agnolotti dal Plin Steal This Recipe® step-by-step Instructions

1. Cut the pasta dough into three equally sized pieces

2. Re-wrap two of the pieces in plastic wrap and set aside

3. Begin working with one of the unwrapped pieces of dough

4. On a lightly floured work surface, use a floured rolling pin to roll out the pasta dough until it is 1/8-inch thick (you can also use a pasta machine and roll out the dough on its thinnest setting)

5. Lay the resulting pasta sheet on a lightly floured surface with a long side facing you

6. Trim the edges so they are straight

7. Using a tablespoon, scoop equally sized spoonfuls of the filling and place along the bottom half of the pasta sheet, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border of dough at the bottom and sides: each dollop of filling should be approximately 1 1/2-inches away from the next

8. Pull the top edge of the pasta down and over the filling

9. The dough should form 1 large pocket over the dollops of filling

10. Seal the agnolotti by gently carefully molding the pasta over the filling and pressing lightly with your index finger to seal the edge of the dough to the pasta sheet; don't drag your finger along the dough to seal, or you risk ripping the dough

11. When it is sealed, there should be about 1/2-inch of excess dough visible along the bottom of the mounds of filling (where you sealed it); be certain that you are sealing tightly while pressing out any pockets of air

12. Seal the left and right ends of the dough

13. Starting at one end of the dough, place the thumb and forefinger of each hand together as if you were going to pinch something and, leaving about 1-inch of space between your hands and holding your fingers vertically, pinch the filling in 1-inch increments, making about 3/4-inch of "pinched" are between each pocket of filling

Note: It is important to leave this much "pinched" area between the agnolotti, or when the agnolotti are separated, they may come unsealed

14. Run a sharp knife or crimped pastry wheel along the bottom edge of the folded-over dough, separating the strip of filled pockets from the remainder of the pasta sheet; don't cut too close to the filling, or you risk breaking the seal

15. Separate the individual agnolotti by cutting the center of each pinched area, rolling the pastry wheel away from you

16. Working quickly, place the agnolotti on a baking sheet dusted with a thin layer of cornmeal, which will help prevent sticking; don't let the agnolotti touch each other, or they may stick together

17. Repeat with the 2 remaining dough balls until the entire bowl of filling has been used

18. Let the shaped agnolotti rest for 24 minutes

19. Bring 6 quarts water to a rolling boil, and add 2 tablespoons salt

20. Add the agnolotti to the water and cook until tender, about 4 minutes total

21. Drain well and toss with a sauce or ragu of your choice or a combination of beef broth and butter

22. Sprinkle with Parmigiano Reggiano and serve

For complete nutritional information please go to www.stealthisrecipe.com

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