Dara Klein, chef and founder of Pasta Princess and Tiella, presents three beloved Italian recipes that capture the essence of trattoria cooking: a fresh pesto trapanese, a deeply flavorful pasta pomodoro, and a rich torta caprese. Each dish is rooted in tradition but adapted for home cooks, with tips for achieving authentic results.
Pesto Trapanese: A Sicilian Classic with Almonds and Tomatoes
Klein's pesto trapanese differs from the Genovese version by using almonds, fresh tomatoes, pecorino, garlic, and basil. The almonds are roasted at 180C (160C fan) for 13 minutes, then blended with diced tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, and garlic until rustic. Basil and pecorino are pulsed in last. According to Klein, this pesto pairs well with busiate, penne, spaghetti, bucatini, or fusilli. She recommends finishing with lemon juice and black pepper for brightness.
Pasta Pomodoro: The Heart of Trattoria Cooking
Klein's pomodoro sauce achieves deep umami in one hour by caramelizing passata in the pan. The method involves cooking sliced onions with bay leaves in olive oil, deglazing with white wine, then simmering passata until a crust forms. Scraping this crust back into the sauce intensifies flavor. The sauce can be made a day ahead and is served with orecchiette, penne, spaghetti, or rigatoni, topped with Parmigiano, pecorino, or pangrattato.
Torta Caprese: Flourless Chocolate Cake with Hazelnuts
This torta caprese, developed with pastry chef Maximiliane Krauss-Waller, uses 170g hazelnuts (toasted and ground), 170g dark chocolate (70% cocoa), and 170g unsalted butter. The batter includes separated eggs, light brown sugar, and optional marsala. Baked at 180C (160C fan) for 40 minutes, the cake benefits from overnight chilling. Klein suggests serving it warm with Amarena cherries and whipped cream or mascarpone laced with espresso.
Each recipe emphasizes quality ingredients: good chocolate, fresh tomatoes, and regional nuts like Tonda Gentile delle Langhe hazelnuts. Klein's adaptations make these trattoria staples accessible for home cooking while preserving their rustic charm.
