Grown up Alphabet Pasta

Submitted by Chuck Hughes

"Recipe courtesy Chuck Hughes"

 

• Ready In: 30mins
• Ingredients: 8
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 1 to 2 tablespoons or a good nub butter, plus 2 tablespoons
• 1 large shallot, chopped
• 2 cups dried alphabet pasta
• 3 cups chicken stock, plus more as needed
• 1 cup coarsely grated parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon coarse salt
• fresh ground black pepper
• 1 good handful fresh parsley, chopped

directions

1. Melt the butter over high heat in a saucepan. Add the shallot and cook, stirring often, until golden brown, about 6 to 8 minutes. Be attentive to this. You don't want any brown crispy shallot edges. Reduce the heat to medium, and add 2 tablespoons butter along with the alphabet pasta.
2. Cook, stirring often, until the pasta is coated in the butter and is light and golden, about 2 minutes.
3. Add 1 cup chicken stock, and bring everything to a boil. Let the liquid get incorporated, then once absorbed add another 2 cups or more stock about a cup at a time. Continue boiling, stirring all the while, until the pasta absorbs the stock, about 10 minutes.
4. If the mixture becomes too thick before the pasta finishes, pour in a little more stock or water.
5. Stir in the grated Parmesan, salt and pepper to taste. Check the pasta's consistency, and add more stock, if needed.

6. Cook's Note:

7. You are looking for a slightly loose consistency with the pasta having a bit of a bite in its center. Fold in the chopped parsley, and add a bit more salt and pepper, if needed.