Four Cheese Pappardelle with Red Onions and Walnuts

In one of the most important collections of short stories of the 14th century, Giovanni Boccaccio described the land of indulgence and abundance, pleasure and joy, as “a whole mountain made of cheese,” on top of which people ate “maccheroni and ravioli.” Even back in the 1300s, in the Land of Bengodi from the Decameron, one of the most beloved dishes was pasta with cheese. This lucky and irresistible pairing is still today the perfect symbol of culinary richness, flavor, and pure enjoyment. While progress has changed our habits, our lifestyles, and the way we spend our time, some things have never really changed and probably never will. Over the centuries, cooking has evolved, experimented, and embraced influences from all over the world. It has grown from simple nourishment into a celebrated art. And yet, when we stand alone at the stove or sit around the table with the people we love, the feeling we get from that very first bite of four cheese pasta is not so different from what Boccaccio described centuries ago.

Our new recipe is a little time machine ready to take you back to the old Roman taverns, where it is said that innkeepers added plenty of black pepper to their cheese sauce to encourage guests to order more wine. Or to the time of Domenico Romoli, known as “Panunto,” who through his writings praised the elegance and importance of pappardelle in the kitchen. For him, it was the perfect pasta shape to highlight the bold, unmistakable flavor of Pecorino cheese. And as we breathe in the aroma of our Four Cheese Pappardelle with Red Onions and Walnuts, we cannot help but agree. After the first bite, we are sure you will too.

Ingredients

11.3 oz - 320 g of Pappardelle with wheat germ Toscana Food Love
2.8 oz - 80 g of Soft Pecorino from the Apennines Emilia Food Love
2.8 oz - 80 g of Semi-aged Pecorino from the Apennines Emilia Food Love
2.8 oz - 80 g of Aged Pecorino from the Apennines Emilia Food Love
2.8 oz - 80 g of Pecorino Romano DOP Toscana Food Love
3.5 oz - 100 g of Red onions in oil Emilia Food Love
1.1 oz - 30 g of walnuts

Method

1. Cook the pappardelle in plenty of boiling salted water.

2. While the pasta cooks, prepare the four-cheese cream. Grate the cheeses into a bowl, add a ladle of pasta cooking water and whisk until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
   
3. In a skillet, sauté the red onions in oil over medium heat.
4. Add the drained pasta to the pan, then pour in the four-cheese cream.
5. Mix well and finish by adding the walnuts, which you will have previously chopped, together with a sprinkling of grated cheese.
   
6. Serve the pasta while still hot on a serving dish.
   
   Tip

You can replace the Pappardelle with wheat germ with our Spaghetti or with a short pasta shape like Penne.
If you love bold and intense flavors, feel free to add a pinch of black pepper.