Speck'tacular Strozzapreti - Priest Chokers with Speck and Egg Sauce

This is based on 2 of my favorite pasta dishes Linguine alla Papalina and Spaghetti alla Carbonara which are both made with egg/cheese sauces that are built on the pasta during tossing. So, I began with the sauce and worked from there. A little Cracked Black Pepper and Pecorino Romano from the Carbonara with Speck (Smoked Prosciutto) and Shallot from the Papalina. The addition of Arugula is more of a guilt thing, just to make sure I have a green vegetable in my dish, Italian Parsley would work just as well. But Arugula does have a slight pepperiness to it that works well with the black pepper as well as the smoky flavor of the Speck. I decided on Strozzapreti pasta because I figured the shape would hold more sauce than the longer pastas. After all, the ultimate purpose of pasta is to get flavorful sauces into your face... ;)

It appears that Strozzapreti is sometimes called Stranglopreti, but I tend to think of Stranglopreti as being a gnocchi made with bread and the Strozzapreti as being the pasta. Both words mean “priest strangler or priest choker”, however, I think Strangolare means “garroted, type of strangling” versus Strozzare which means “physically throttled type of strangling”. In the long run, I guess it really doesn't matter either way, but whether you’re a priest or not, please eat slowly and carefully, I would not want to be liable for any food consumption related accidents… LOL

Strozzapreti di Fumo y Sugo all'Uovo

2 oz Speck, chopped
Olive oil
1/4 cup Pinot Grigio (dryer, not sweet)
1/2 cup Chicken Stock
3 large Egg Yolks
1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano, plus (optional) 1/4 cup chopped
1 TB freshly ground Black Pepper
1/2 lb Strozzapreti pasta
1 1/2 cups chopped Arugula

Set a large pot of water to boil.
In a small saucepan, heat olive oil over medium flame, then add the speck and sauté.

Remove the Speck to drain, add the shallots and cook for 1 minute, then deglaze the saucepan with Pinot Grigio and reduce by half.

Add Chicken stock and heat to a simmer.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine egg yolks, Pecorino, pepper, and salt, whisking to combine.

When Water Boils, add salt and drop the Strozzapreti, cooking until al dente.
Place chopped Arugula in a warmed pasta bowl.

Drain the Pasta and to the bowl

Then add the Speck

And the simmering stock.

Toss to coat.

Pour the egg mixture over the pasta

and toss until sauce becomes creamy.

Divide between four warm bowls and sprinkle with chopped Pecorino Romano if desired.
Serve immediately.

Mangia!!
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