Friday, July 20, 2007

Orange Sweet Potato and Ditalini Patties


These were really tasty, besides the fact that for the life of me, I could not find any ditalini pasta anywhere. Instead I used tiny little star shaped pasta, I don't think there is any need to actually use the pasta specified, but what ever pasta you use, make sure it is tiny. I served mine on a bed of mixed lettuce leaves and a big dollop of creamy mayonnaise.

*Taken from 'Fast Food', a Murdoch publication Book, 2002*

Ingredients
2 orange sweet potatoes (about 800g in total)
1/2 cup (90g) ditalini
30g toasted pine nuts
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 tbs finely chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup (50g) freshly grated Parmesan
1/3 cup (35g) dry breadcrumbs
plain flour, for dusting
olive oil, for shallow-frying

Method
Preheat the oven to very hot 250C. Pierce the whole sweet potatoes several times with a fork, then place in a roasting tin and roast for 1 hour, or until soft. Remove and allow to cool. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large saucepan of rapidly boiling salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse under running water.

Peel the sweet potato and mash the flesh with a potato masher or fork, then add the pine nuts, garlic, basil, Parmesan, breadcrumbs and the pasta and combine. Season.

Shape the mixture into eight even patties (about 1.5cm thick) with floured hands, then lightly dust the patties with flour. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and cook the patties in batches over medium heat for 2 minutes each side, or until golden and heated through. Drain on crumpled paper towels, sprinkle with salt and serve immediately. Great with a fresh green salad.

Serves 4

5 comments:

Unknown said...

I think I might have to try this one, it looks scrummy. I have no idea what ditalini looks like, but Spaniards normally put tiny pasta into soups so finding a replacement won't be a problem.

Melody said...

Raelha - ditalini is kinda like a tiny macaroni pasta. Imagine something you would make a necklace out of!?!

Anonymous said...

Sounds yummy -- I love sweet potato -- but also fiddly. Once I've cooked something in the oven I'm not too keen at having to cook it again using a different method...

Melody said...

Kimbofo - this recipe is very, very simple. Basically you are just reheating the potato in the pattie as everything else doesn't really need to be cooked. They are delicious. You'd like them and the recipe isn't really fiddly at all, it is easy!

Pando said...

Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm they sure look good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!