Pappardelle alla Fiesolana is classic Italian comfort food. Made with staple fridge and pantry ingredients, this is a dish worth sharing!
How was your holiday? We spent the long weekend relaxed anddddd full! We ticked all the boxes for a sweet and tasty Thanksgiving! But once there was no more turkey and stuffing to be had, our sights turned to Christmas Eve.
We’re hosting this year, and although we usually do a casual appetizer-type situation we’re planning a sit down dinner, which of course will include pasta. Wondering what to make, Luc grabbed her computer and did a smart thing – for inspiration she perused menus of fine Italian restaurants in NYC.
Bingo! Worked like a charm!
Bar Pitti has a dish that caught our attention! Pappardelle alla Fiesolana. Described on their menu as flat, large homemade pasta with smoked bacon, cream, tomatoes and Parmigiano – we. were. done! (Definitely a culinary destination we need to add to our list.)
WHAT IS PAPPARDELLE ALLA FIESOLANA?
- The best of peasant cooking! Originating centuries ago in Fiesole, a town just outside Florence, it was a popular dish typically served during the holidays. The sauce was a simple béchamel with small amounts of savory ingredients added to the mix. We’re including crushed tomatoes for a creamy tomato sauce touch.
INGREDIENTS FOR THIS UNFUSSY, CREAMY DELICIOUS DISH:
-
- olive oil
- butter
- sweet onion
- cloves of garlic
- red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt and cracked black pepper
- pancetta or smokey bacon
- crushed tomatoes
- heavy cream or light
- Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- pappardelle pasta or penne
DIRECTIONS:
- Begin by combining olive oil, butter, chopped onion, garlic, salt and pepper, red pepper flakes and diced pancetta in a large skillet. (Can’t go wrong with that!)
- Once the onions are soft and translucent and the pancetta heated through, add the crushed tomatoes. Cook for about 10 minutes, then add the heavy cream and grated Parmigiano.
- Stir and continue cooking until heated through.
- In the meantime, cook pappardelle in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente.
- When done, strain pasta, add it back to the pot and add the sauce. Gently stir until pasta is covered.
- Serve immediately with more grated Parm and red pepper flakes (for those who really like a kick in their sauce…which is my entire family!)
So what do you think? Looks good, right? I prepared this dish the day Luc was readying to leave. (Thanks to Mama Nature – we had her for an extra couple of days! #Happiness)
The fellas came home for lunch and we dined in style. Luckily there were leftovers because I need a bite right now! 😉
Creamy, cheesy, slightly spicy….this pasta will be on repeat in our house!
I hope in your house, too!
If you decide to give this recipe a try – I’d love your feedback and photos! Tag @ciaochowbambina on Instagram, or share to my Pinterest and Facebook page!
MORE HOLIDAY RECIPES:
Cheesy Broccoli Primavera Bake
Chicken Braciole with Parmesan & Pancetta
Mini Baked Chicken Meatballs with Peperonata
Stuffed Shells with Spinach-Ricotta & Roasted Sweet Red Pepper Sauce
Buon Appetito!
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Pappardelle Alla Fiesolana
Description
Pappardelle alla Fiesolana is classic Italian comfort food. Made with staple fridge and pantry ingredients, this is a dish worth sharing!
Ingredients
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. butter
1 small sweet onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
Kosher salt and cracked black pepper, to taste
1/2 lb. cubed smokey bacon
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 cup light cream
Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1 lb. pappardelle pasta
Instructions
Begin by combining olive oil, butter, chopped onion, garlic, salt and pepper, red pepper flakes and diced pancetta in a large skillet.
Once the onions are soft and translucent and the pancetta heated through, add the crushed tomatoes. Cook for about 10 minutes, then add the heavy cream and grated Parmigiano.
Stir and continue cooking until heated through.
In the meantime, cook pappardelle in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente.
When done, strain pasta, add it back to the pot and add the sauce. Gently stir until pasta is covered.
Serve immediately with more grated Parm and red pepper flakes.
Annie, this is definitely going on my holiday menu, I’m sure it will be delicious, as all of your creations are!
Happy Holidays to you and your family, and your Pop!
Thank you, Jan! Enjoy! Happy Holidays to you and your family!
I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that such a simple recipe with so few ingredients can be packed with this much flavor! Even with half the amount of bacon (all I had) and the necessary dairy free substitutes (canned coconut milk and plant based Parmesan), it was still delicious!
Love this, Annie! Would it be okay if I use fresh tomatoes instead of the canned ones? Or the canned ones will be so much better? Thanks!
Fresh is always best, I say!! But the canned work well when you can’t get your hands on fresh! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Looking forward to trying this recipe – can you tell me the size can of tomatoes to use? 14.5 ounce? 28 ounce?
Love it! And thank you for catching that!! The size is 28 ounces. Buon Appetito!!
I love that your attention turned straight to your Christmas Eve meal. You’re a woman after my own heart, Annie! And how spectacular is this pasta dish? So excited to try it!
Hehehe! Too fun this time of year!! Thanks, my friend!
I have never seen the word Fiesolana, but I know from the list of ingredients that I will love it. And who doesn’t love papardelle?!!
Exactly! Who doesn’t love pappardelle?! Thanks, Mimi!
What a beautiful presentation of a hearty and tasty dish! This will surely be a crowd pleaser!
Thanks, Kevin! It’s a gooood one!!
Annie, my mouth is watering! This looks insanely delicious. I absolutely love how creamy the sauce looks – and the spicy addition of the red pepper flakes! Hope I’m on the list for the Christmas Eve dinner 😉
Thank you, Haylie! Of course you’re on the list – the more the merrier!! 🙂
I just visited Fiesole! Such a beautiful town 🙂 Can’t wait to make this pasta dish, Annie!
Oh, how wonderful!! Enjoy the dish!! 🙂
This is total comfort food. I love the simplicity of this dish. It looks absolutely amazing.
Comfort all the way! We’re all about it!! 🙂
So swooning over this wonderful pasta, Annie! Pappardelle is my fave and this sauce is incredible!
It’s a keeper! Thank you so much, friend!!
I love holiday meals that step outside of the traditional box! What a perfect way to celebrate and with a simple peasant pasta. All the flavors have me drroooooling! So happy y’all had a fabulous holiday xo
Thanks, dear!! Right?! Must change it up every now and again! xo
OMG Annie! This would be perfect for Christmas Eve. All the ingredients are just spot on for a fabulous pasta dish that everyone in my family would LOVE! Thanks so much for sharing and I’m really looking forward to giving this dish a try! Thanks to Luc too!
It’s really great when a plan comes together! The interwebs had our back! 😉 Thank you, friend!!
Oh myyyyy!!! I’m sipping a glass of red right now and dreaming that there’s a big plate of this ready and waiting for me!!! It looks soooo good Annie. The perfect date night pasta!!
Heyyy! Let’s share! You bring the wine and I’ll bring the pasta!! Thanks, friend!
This sounds lovely for Christmas eve Annie! What time is dinner! 😉 We’re more into crazing on charcuterie on Christmas eve, but this pasta has me re-thinking our plans!
I get that! Charcute (that’s what we call it! 😉 ) is a favorite of ours, too! Thanks, Leanne!!
Spicy and cheese? AND PASTA? Count me in! This sounds delicious!
Counted!! Thanks, pal!
I love everything about this pasta! I will definitely be adding this to the menu over the holidays 🙂
Yay! I highly recommend that you do!! Thanks, Jennifer!
Creamy, cheesy and spicy? Sounds like a winner to me! I can’t believe Christmas is just around the corner! Pinning this one and trying soon 🙂 Happy weekend ahead!
Almost too much to handle! Almost! 😉 Thanks, Dawn!! 🙂
This is one recipe I simply have to make — it sounds amazing. We are hosting Christmas only it’ll be a week early so everyone can be there. We have been on a pappardelle binge. We can’t stop making and eating it. So good. This sauce will go perfectly with our homemade pasta. Buon Natale, Un abbraccio forte!
I think you will love it, Marisa!! Comfort to the max!! Thank you, my friend!