Spaghetti with carrot cream, leek & almonds

Method

1. Clean the leek, use the green part to prepare a broth and cut the white part into thin slices.
2. Wash the carrots, peel them and cut them into small pieces.
3. Warm up a couple of spoonfuls of oil in a large pan, add the leeks, sauté a few minutes, season with salt and pepper and cook for further 5 minutes.
4. Add the carrots, let if flavour, then add a couple of ladles of broth.
5. Cover with a lid and cook for about 15 minutes until the carrots are tender.
6. Blend everything until you get a fairly thick cream, then add a little broth.
7. Season with salt, pepper and a pinch of grated nutmeg, then put aside.
8. Roast the almonds in the oven at 200 °C for 5 minutes, then mince them quite coarsely.
9. Cook the spaghetti in boiling salted water, drain when 'al dente' (cooked enough to be firm but not soft), and put them into the pan with the sauce.
10. Add the almonds (keeping a few aside) and cook for 2 more minutes, adding some broth to reach a smooth consistency.
11. Generously sprinkle with some Roman ricotta, drizzle some olive oil and the remaining almonds, then serve.

This recipe was created by the foodblogger Elena Levati for Noberasco

Chef's tip

If you can't find Roman ricotta, you can replace it with some fresh Pecorino cheese or any other savoury cheese of your choice!

Serving suggestion

This dish goes well with almost any kind of course, be it vegetable, meat or fish based. A cheese selection is also a good option.

Wine selection

Chardonnay, Riesling or Pinot grigio.

Family tip

Almonds blend perfectly with the sweet taste of carrots. If you want to vary the taste, resulting in a stronger flavour, try replacing the almonds with equal amounts of pistachios. The dressing is also very suitable for a risotto: just add it to the rice to make the final creaming.

Dish history

Here comes a delicious pasta dish that can be enjoyed all year round thanks to the broad availability of its main ingredient, namely carrots. Quick and easy to make, it makes the ideal recipe for when you are in a hurry or don't feel like standing in the kitchen for too long. Still, the result is a yummy and healthy dish everyone will enjoy!