cover image Handmade Pasta Workshop & Cookbook

Handmade Pasta Workshop & Cookbook

Nicole Karr. Page St, $21.99 (192p) ISBN 978-1-62414-322-9

Though novices may be put off by the prospect of DIY pasta, Karr’s debut cookbook is sure to cause them to reexamine that stance in this truly stunning collection of over 50 impressive recipes. Karr deftly deflates any worries in her introduction to making basic pasta dough, assuring readers that they’ve likely already got the required ingredients in their kitchen and providing detailed instructions (complete with photos) for making one’s own orecchiette, fusilli, and cavatelli, along with a number of other artisan pastas. Virtually any type of pasta can work with many of the book’s dishes, but Karr’s choices show why it’s crucial to use the right pasta in dishes such as gnocchetti with fava beans, shrimp, and pistachio pesto, and maccheroni with braciole and pomodoro sauce. Each recipe is a necessary component of the cookbook. There’s no padding, nor are any dishes included purely for showmanship. Pasta newbies can start slowly with simple preparations such as pea-shaped cicones in a hearty lentil stew or tagliatelle primavera before tackling more complex dishes such as polenta raviolo with guanciale and wild mushrooms, with its centerpiece of luscious polenta dumplings filled with egg yolks. Karr has thoughtfully curated a showcase for one of the world’s most-loved ingredients, displaying its versatility and accessibility. (Dec.)