Recipes Frascatelli Carbonara Be the first to rate & review! At Union Square Cafe, executive chef Michael Romano tops homemade frascatelli, a dense spaetzle-like pasta, with a combination of pancetta, cheese and cream. More Fast Pasta Recipes By Michael Romano Michael Romano James Beard Award winner Michael Romano is the former executive chef of the legendary New York City eatery Union Square Cafe and director of culinary development for the Union Square Hospitality Group, which included such acclaimed restaurants as Gramercy Tavern, Blue Smoke, Jazz Standard, Shake Shack, Maialino, and The Modern. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 1, 2017 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: © John Kernick Total Time: 45 mins Yield: 4 Ingredients 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 6 ounces pancetta, sliced 1/4 inch thick and cut into 1-inch strips 1 cup heavy cream Freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup freshly grated pecorino cheese, plus more for serving 1 large egg yolk Cold water 2 tablespoons kosher salt 1 pound semolina flour (2 1/2 cups) Directions In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the pancetta and cook over moderate heat until crisp, about 7 minutes. Drain the pancetta in a strainer over a bowl; reserve 2 tablespoons of the fat. Add the cream to the skillet and bring to a simmer over moderate heat. Grind black pepper into the cream, then add in the Parmesan and the 1/2 cup of pecorino, stirring until the cheese has blended into the cream, about 2 minutes. Scrape the mixture into a bowl and let cool. Whisk in the egg yolk, pancetta and the reserved pancetta fat and refrigerate. Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil; add the salt. Spread the semolina on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Put 1 cup of cold water in a bowl. Dip your fingertips in the water and scatter drops all over the surface of the semolina. Keep scattering until the entire surface is covered with drops. With a rubber spatula, turn the moistened semolina over on itself, tossing to form small lumps. Shake the pan to spread the loose semolina in an even layer. Repeat with more water until just about all of the semolina has been formed into irregular lumps about the size of small peas. Shake the frascatelli in a colander to remove any loose semolina. Pour the frascatelli into the boiling water and cook, stirring a few times, until al dente, about 4 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large, deep skillet, gently reheat the sauce over moderately low heat, stirring constantly. Drain the frascatelli, add it to the sauce and bring to a simmer, stirring. Transfer the frascatelli to shallow bowls and serve, passing grated pecorino at the table. Make Ahead The cream sauce can be refrigerated overnight. Suggested Pairing A rich dish like this requires a wine with tangy acidity; Christopher Russell, the restaurant's general manager, suggests a Tuscan Sangiovese from Chianti Classico. Rate it Print