Bongetta Formaggi consiglia la preparazione di questa fantastica ricetta: risotto Bitto Dop e pere, che nasce dai nostri antenati. La consuetudine di abbinare il gusto dolce della frutta al sapore deciso del formaggio risale al periodo dell’antico Medioevo. Nel lontano Duecento, in Francia, un modo di dire molto conosciuto, all’epoca narrava: “Oncques Deus ne fist tel mariage comme de poire et de fromage”, e cioè: “Dio non ha mai fatto un matrimonio così riuscito come quello tra la pera e il formaggio”. Prima di diventare una matrimonio vincente, formaggio e pere fu frutto di un abbinamento fortuito, o meglio, temporale, che combinava due alimenti che di solito si mangiavano alla fine del pasto: frutta e formaggi. Il formaggio saziava a fine pasto e la frutta rinfrescava e stimolava la digestione.

Ingredienti:

• 280 g riso
• 15 g scalogno
• 150 g di formaggio Bitto Dop
• 200 g pere
• 50 g Grana Padano Dop
• 30 g burro
• 1 bicchiere di vino bianco
• 1,5 l brodo di carne
• 2 cucchiai olio extravergine di oliva
• sale e pepe q.b.

Ricetta:

These gnocchi have a particular flavour, the main ingredient is the potato, of course, but the other vegetables make them taste really savoury and hard wheat flour gives them a good consistency. The fonduta is simply gorgeous, especially if you savour it when hot and use bitto cheese.

Serves 2 – 3 people

Ingredients: 350gr (1.6cup -12.8oz) potatoes* – 100gr (½cup-3.5oz) carrots* – 30gr (0.125cup – 1oz) onion – 20gr (0.1cup – 0.8oz) celery – 150gr (0.7cup – 5.6oz) hard wheat flour – 1 egg yolk.
* without the skin

For the fonduta: 70gr (0.3cup – 2.4oz) bitto cheese – ½ glass of milk – 2tbs whipped cream.

Steam potatoes with carrots, onion and celery. Smash potatoes, then crush the other vegetables and mix all together. Cool down, add egg yolk and flour little by little. Knead and eventually add some more flour, till you’ll get a smooth and non-sticky dough. Take a small quantity and, on a floured surface, form a stick thick as a finger, and cut it into pieces of 2cm (0.8inch). After that, using a fork with the prongs facing upwards, press the fork down on to one side of each gnocco (singular of gnocchi) so that it leaves a row of ridges on each one (or you can use the appropriate tool). The ridges are there to absorb the sauce effectively. Place them on a floured tray and continue till you finish all the dough.

Now prapare the fonduta. Melt in a saucepan at very low heat bitto cheese cut into pieces with milk, stirring often. When done, add cream.

To cook the gnocchi, bring a large pan of water to a simmer, then add salt and drop the gnocchi. When they will start to float to the surface they’re ready. Remove them with a draining spoon and transfer them directly into the dishes. Pour the fonduta and serve immediately.

This traditional dish of the Valtellina is one of the most popular in all mountain locations in Lombardy. In addition, when served warm and stringy, it is ideal with sausages, cote chino (Italian pork sausage), mixed mushrooms and onions, depending on the recipes.
The peculiarity of the polenta Taranga, which makes it different from the other types of polenta, resides in the buckwheat: the traditional yellow flour is mixed to the brown buckwheat flour, creating a unique flavour. The polenta Taragna of the Valtellina, distinguishes itself for the cheese used: the Bitto and Casera.

Ingredients

250 g di butter, 100g di yellow flour, 500 g buckwheat flour, 250 g Bitto cheese, salt, water.

Preparation

Pour about 2 litres of water into a pot and make it boil. Sprinkle the two types of flour, mixed beforehand, and cook, stirring for about an hour. Add crumbled butter and cook for 10 more minutes. Add the finely-sliced cheese and stir well for a couple of minutes, till the cheese melts. Then pour the polenta on the wooden chopping board and serve.

Time

an hour and a half.

Difficulty:   medium