Appetizers
Porpetta with Orzo Medley
Trentadue Winery
19170 Geyserville Ave
Geyserville, CA 95441
www.trentadue.com
- RECIPE YEAR: 2014
- RECIPE BY: Donna Wegener of Pacific Connection
- PAIRS WELL WITH: 2012 La Storia Cuvee 32 Red Blend
A delicious meat and fresh herb porpetta is served on a bed of orzo pasta tossed with pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes and arugula.
Porpetta
Ingredients:
- 3/4 pound chicken breast, cooked and finely chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground veal
- Olive oil as needed
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
- 3 bunches Swiss chard, stemmed, leaves chopped and cooked until tender
- 1 1/2 cups grated Romano cheese
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh oregano
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
- Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
- All-purpose flour for dusting
Directions:
In a large frying pan, brown the pork. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a large bowl. Drain off the fat in the pan. Repeat to brown the ground beef and veal separately. Transfer to the bowl and let cool. Wipe out the pan with paper towels. Warm a thin layer of olive oil in the pan, add the garlic and parsley and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool. Add the garlic mixture to the bowl with the meat mixture. Add the panko, Swiss chard, cheese, eggs, oregano, sage, basil and rosemary. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate for about 1 hour. Form the meat mixture into patties and dust with flour. In a large fry pan, warm olive oil. Working in batches, fry the patties until the meat is cooked through.
Orzo Medley
Ingredients:
- Leaves from 3 bunches fresh basil
- Fresh lemon juice, to taste
- 1 pound orzo
- Olive oil as needed
- 6 garlic heads, roasted
- 1 cup fresh chickpeas, cooked until tender
- 3/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup green, Kalamata and seasoned olives, pitted and chopped
- 6 ounces baby arugula
- Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Directions:
In a food processor, combine the basil and lemon juice and process until pureed. Set aside. Cook the orzo according to the package instructions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Let cool, then toss with a little olive oil. Squeeze the garlic cloves from the skins and add the garlic to the orzo. Add the chickpeas, pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes, olives and arugula and toss gently to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
Directions:
To serve, spoon the orzo onto plates and top with the porpetta.