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Mexican


2 tablespoons blended oil
1 shallot, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 to 10 cloves garlic, simmered in blended oil until soft
2 tablespoons red wine
1 cup Cooked Chorizo, recipe follows
6 tablespoons chicken stock, plus more if needed
2 cups Tomato Sauce, recipe follows
1/4 cup heavy cream
13 ounces Blanched Fresh Pasta, recipe follows
Salt and pepper
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled
2 ounces fresh mozzarella, torn
2 tablespoons prepared pesto (we use spinach and almond pesto)

Cooked Chorizo:
Oil, for greasing
2 pounds ground pork
2 tablespoons dried oregano leaves
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
2 tablespoons Spanish paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch cayenne pepper, optional
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 tablespoon sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Tomato Sauce:
1 tablespoon blended oil
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano leaves
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons red wine
Three 16-ounce cans diced tomatoes
1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup tomato paste
Salt and pepper

Blanched Fresh Pasta:
1 pound all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
1 1/4 cups egg yolks
1/4 Salt

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add the oil. Add the shallots and minced garlic and sauté, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the whole garlic cloves and deglaze the pan with the wine. Add the Cooked Chorizo and chicken stock.
Let the mixture simmer until reduced slightly. Add the Tomato Sauce and heavy cream and simmer 2 to 3 minutes more. Add the pasta and stir until well coated and heated through. If the pasta becomes dry, add a splash of stock. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Remove the pan from the heat and swirl in the butter until combined. Divide the pasta between 2 bowls. To finish the dish, top with the mozzarella and pesto.
Cooked Chorizo:
Yield: About 2 pounds
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a sheet pan.
Place the pork in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, thoroughly mix the oregano, smoked paprika, Spanish paprika, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne (if using), 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add the spice mixture to the pork, then add the garlic, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and 1/4 cup water and thoroughly mix.
Spread out the chorizo on the prepared sheet pan and bake until just cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Using a spatula, form crumbles by chopping and stirring. Add more spice or salt to taste. Let cool completely before use.
Tomato Sauce:
Yield: 2 quarts
Heat a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat, then add the oil. Add the onions, basil and oregano and stir until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, stir for 1 minute, then deglaze with the wine. Add the tomatoes, vinegar, sugar and red pepper flakes.
Bring to a simmer, stirring, then reduce the heat to low. Add the tomato paste and stir until well combined. Season with salt and pepper and simmer for 20 minutes. Taste for seasoning, then lightly blend with an immersion blender. Do not puree.
Blanched Fresh Pasta:
Yield: 9 portions
Combine the flour, egg yolks, oil, 1/4 cup water and 2 1/2 teaspoons salt in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Mix on low speed until the dough pulls away from the sides of bowl. Turn the dough out onto the counter and knead to form a uniform ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for 1 hour (or overnight in the refrigerator).
When the dough is ready, bring 1 to 2 gallons of salted water to a boil.
Meanwhile, set up your pasta machine, unwrap the dough and dust with flour. Cut the dough in half and rewrap the half you're not using.
Flatten the dough enough to fit into the roller. Open the pasta roller to widest setting (#1). Pass the dough through the roller, dusting with flour as needed now and as you continue to roll out the dough to prevent sticking. Narrow the roller to the #2 setting and pass the dough through. Continue to the #4 setting, then the #5 setting. Trim the ends and cut into 12-inch sheets. Repeat the process with the remaining dough half.
Dust the finished sheets with flour, then fold into thirds. Keep the folded sheets as straight as possible and, using a sharp knife, cut into 1/4-inch strands to form tagliatelle. Dust the pasta with flour if needed to prevent sticking.
Blanch the pasta in the boiling water until it floats, about 4 minutes. (The pasta will be cooked lightly in the chorizo tomato sauce, so do not overcook it during the blanching phase. No one likes mushy pasta.) Drain and transfer to an ice bath to slow the heating. Drain well and toss with oil. Divide into nine 6.5-ounce portions.

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