Chef Boy-R-Dell: Cooks up Bucatini all' Amatriciana con Pollo

Some people know how to cook, others say they do and head straight to the Mac ‘n’ Cheese. Once in a while you come across a friend who slaps your appetite in the face and turns you into a lil’ Oliver Twist having you say, “mo’ please”. Ryan Dellorusso, a.k.a. Chef Boy-R-Dell is an Italian Stallion in the kitchen. He will definitely have your taste buds tingling with his pancetta-loving menu. With the knowledge of an Italian and spices and herb straight from the land of the Godfathers, Chef Boy-R-Dell cooks up a delicious lip-smacking meal called Bucatini all’ Amatriciana con Pollo.

Chef Boy-R-Dell’s passion for Italian cuisine is evident in his exquisite cooking. With a thick moustache that puts Mario and Luigi to shame, Boy-R-Dell keeps it fun and exciting in the kitchen. He demands only the best ingredients when he cooks for his family and friends. Here’s the Italian Stallion to tell you guys how to make delicious art in the cucina:

Bucatini all’ Amatriciana con Pollo

Ingredients:

1 lb Bucatini or Linguine Pasta (I prefer Bucatini because it’s a hollowed out type of spaghetti that helps catch more flavor)

1/2 lb Pancetta (Italian style peppered bacon, diced)

1/2 lb Chicken Breast (Diced into bite-sized portions)

1 lb Roma Tomatoes (Blanched, diced, and drained)

1/2 Onion (Minced or diced)

2 Serrano Chile Peppers (You can chop it, or leave whole if you plan to remove it. I cut it into halves so the diner has a choice)

*You can also use Red Chili Peppers if you want a spicier kick*

1/2 cup Olive Oil

1/2 cup White Wine

1 cup of freshly grated Cheese (I use Pecorino Romano because it has more of a cheesy taste, but feel free to substitute in Asiago or Parmesan if you feel like it)

2 cloves Garlic (Although not in the traditional recipe, I think it compliments the meal nicely.)

I also throw in a little bit of Aglio Olio & Peperoncino, an Italian spice I picked up in Rome. It adds a nice spicy flavor to the entire dish and you can really taste it. It isn’t necessary and it is extremely hard to find in America, but if you want to replicate the taste feel free to add more red peppers.

Directions:

1. Prepare all food as noted above.

2. Heat water to a boil, this normally takes a good amount of time so you want to time it accordingly.

3. While the water is heating, you’re going to cook the diced pancetta in a skillet large enough to hold all of the ingredients first. When it’s color starts to change, add the white wine and you can really smell the flavors working together.

4. Once the pancetta is cooked to the desired firmness, remove it, leaving behind a little bit of the grease. (If there is too much, however, you may need to drain a little bit of it but you’re gonna want a nice layer as the grease is going to help cook the chicken.)

5. Cook the chicken. All pieces should be about equal size so it can all cook thoroughly and consistently. Again, you’re going to remove the chicken once it is cooked and set it aside for now.

6. With the meats removed and the pan more or less drained of all the grease, you’re going to start on the onions, peppers, and garlic simultaneously. Pour the olive oil on top and really mix everything together to get a nice uniform color and flavor. (It’s in this step that I add my spices as well)

7. Once the onions start to turn a pretty golden-brown color, you’re going to toss the well drained and blanched tomatoes into the mix. Stir everything up well and give it a few minutes to let the flavors cook into each other, stirring occasionally.

8. After that cooks for a few minutes, add pancetta and mix well before finally adding the chicken. Cook and stir for a few minutes to help reheat the meats.

9. When the pasta is done cooking, drain it well before returning to the hot pot and add your freshly made sauce, stir well. Add your cheese of choice and continue stirring.

10. Once you’ve reached the desired consistency pour all your ingredients into a serving bowl and sprinkle just a little bit of cheese on top to finalize the dish and make it look absolutely irresistible.

Be on the look out for some more Chef-Boy-R-Dell creations in 2011. If you’re hungry like us, we know you’ll love what we have in store. Be sure to take pictures of your own Bucatini all’ Amatriciana con Pollo creations and send them in to tease our stomachs.