Tag: pork

Spaghetti Carbonara

Spaghetti Carbonara

Spaghetti Carbonara

Carbonara dates back to Rome right after WW2 when American army soldiers were living in Italy. It was said that bacon and eggs were incorporated to the pasta, calling it “spaghetti breakfast.” The preparation of carbonara consists of spaghetti tossed in the fat of guanciale or pancetta. A mixture of eggs, pecorino romano, and black pepper is tossed with the pasta off the heat to prevent the eggs from curdling. Then the pork is tossed back in with the pasta. Other variations of this dish include using bucatini, fettuccine, linguine, or penne pasta; parmesan cheese instead of pecorino; and adding peas, broccoli, mushrooms, leeks, and onions.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: European, Italian, main course, pasta, Pork
Servings: 4
Author: Alex Gorgos

Ingredients

  • 1 lb dry spaghetti
  • 3 tbsp salt
  • 8 oz pancetta or guanciale or bacon; diced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 3 large eggs beaten
  • 4 oz pecorino romano or parmesan; shredded
  • 1 tbsp cracked black pepper
  • 1 cup reserved pasta water

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil with the salt. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions 2 minutes shy of being done; reserving 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta without rinsing.
  • In a large sauté pan, brown the pancetta until crispy over medium heat; about 7-8 minutes. Remove from the pan, reserving the fat.
  • Toss in the garlic. Cook for 1 minute.
  • Add in the pasta, coating with the garlic. Cook for 2 minutes.
  • Beat together the eggs, pecorino, and black pepper.
  • Turn off the heat and toss in the egg mixture and pasta water; coating the spaghetti.
  • Toss the pancetta with the spaghetti.
Croque Madame

Croque Madame

Croque Madame

I’ve been waiting a lifetime to try this sandwich. I recently went to Paris for a week and this was the first thing I ate at a small cafe when I got there. The Croque Madame is a decadent, classic French sandwich consisting of ham, gruyere, and Mornay sauce(which is a cream sauce made with gruyere), topped with a fried egg. Without the fried egg, the sandwich is called a Croque Monsieur. It was everything that I expected. Rich, creamy, cheesy, and artery clogging. Seriously one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever eaten, period.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: French
Keyword: Eggs, European, French, main course, Pork, sandwich
Author: Alex Gorgos

Ingredients

Mornay Sauce

  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup gruyere cheese grated
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • salt and pepper to taste

Sandwich

  • 2 tbsp butter divided
  • 2 slices French loaf bread
  • 1/4 cup gruyere cheese grated
  • 2 slices ham
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tbsp chives finely chopped

Instructions

  • Over medium heat in a small pot, whisk together the butter and flour. Cook for 1 minute.
  • Pour in the milk. Whisk over low heat for 3 minutes until thickened.
  • Take off the heat and whisk in the gruyere, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Set aside.
  • Melt 1 tbsp of butter in a skillet. Toast only 1 side of the slices of bread for 4 minutes.
  • Take out the bread for assembly. Spread the dijon must on one piece of the bread; the other with half of the Mornay sauce.
  • Place half of the gruyere on the Mornay sauce, followed by the slices of ham.
  • Put the slice of bread with the dijon on top of the ham; mustard side down. Spread the rest of the Mornay sauce on top of the bread, along with the rest of the gruyere.
  • Bake on a baking pan in a preheated 400 degree oven for 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and gooey.
  • While the sandwich is in the oven, melt 1 tbsp of butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Crack and egg and cook sunny side up force minutes until the whites are cooked through.

Top with the fried egg and chopped chives.

Taylor Pork Roll Breakfast Sandwich

Taylor Pork Roll Breakfast Sandwich

Pennsylvania, main course, breakfast, pork
The Jersey delicacy, Taylor pork roll.

Taylor Pork Roll Breakfast Sandwich

I’ve been very patiently waiting to make it out to the east coast for this moment…the Taylor pork roll sandwich. Considered a delicacy, Taylor pork was created by John Taylor in Trenton, NJ in 1856. The cured meat contains pork, salt, sugar, and spices that formed into a large roll and smoked. It is kind of similar in flavor to a hotdog, but much firmer in texture. This pork is topped on griddled bread of your choice with a fried egg and cheese; sometimes served with ketchup.
Cook Time7 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: New Jersey, Pennsylvania
Keyword: breakfast, main course, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Pork, sandwich, USA
Servings: 2
Author: Alex Gorgos

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 2 croissants
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 slices Taylor pork roll
  • 2 slices cheese

Instructions

  • Melt 1/2 tbsp of butter in a skillet. Toast the croissants cut side down for 2 minutes over medium heat.
    Pennsylvania, main course, breakfast, pork
  • Flip and toast for another minute. Remove from the skillet.
    Pennsylvania, main course, breakfast, pork
  • Add the pork slices into the skillet.
    Pennsylvania, main course, breakfast, pork
  • Brown for 2 minutes a side. Remove from the pan.
    Pennsylvania, main course, breakfast, pork
  • Melt the other 1/2 tbsp of butter. Crack in the eggs and cook to your liking.
    Pennsylvania, main course, breakfast, pork
  • Place the cheese and pork roll on the bottom half of the croissant. Place the egg on the top half.
    Pennsylvania, main course, breakfast, pork
Pennsylvania, main course, breakfast, pork
Fold over and serve.