Nonna's Pasta e Patate - A Southern Italian 'Cucina Povera' Classic (e95)

Buon Giorno A Tutti! In this episode, Nonna Mia, la nonna di tutti (everyone's grandmother), shares a dish from her childhood that she has continued to make for the past 7 decades: pasta e patate. Yes, it's the ultimate carb-comfort food, and a classic 'cucina povera' dish.
Cucina povera translates into the poor man's cuisine and many dishes in Nonna's repertoire are simple but wholesome dishes of this genre.
Postwar times in Southern Italy were economically very depressed, which accounts for the massive number of Italian immigrants around the world. But these dishes are healthy and delicious, and a favourite among millions of Italians in Italy and in the diaspora beyond. If you haven't tried them, we certainly suggest you do. One of the more famous such dishes is pasta e fagioli or you might have heard it called pasta fazool, (pasta with beans).
Nonna is from the hills of Cosenza, Calabria. And while this is how she has always made pasta e palate, recipes vary region to region and family to family. Some choose to include pancetta or bacon. Others like to fold in grated provolone, while some will include parsley, peperoncino and or drizzle olive oil. The options are many.
Ingredients you will need:
- 1.5 pounds of potatoes / .75 kg, peeled and cubed
- 1 pound of pasta of your choice / 450 grams (Nonna prefers spaghetti broken into bits)
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) about 60 ml
- 2 cups of both pasta water & tap water
- 1/2 cup (45 grams) of parmesan cheese and more for sprinkling
- salt and pepper to taste
Prince Edward Island (PEI), one of Canada's eastern provinces, is famous for its potatoes. Nonna proudly uses them since her son-in-law is from PEI and recently returned with a big bag from his holiday.
She washes, peels and cubes the potatoes. If you aren't swiftly cooking them, you might want to add water to stop them from oxidising.
In a pot, over medium heat, add 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil and the chopped half onion. Saute until tender then add the potatoes and 2 cups of water. Allow them to simmer on medium heat for about 20 minutes, salted to taste. The mixture will become creamy. Remove from heat.
Concurrently, you will boil water in a separate pot, salt it and add your chosen pasta and cook as directed. Strain once al dente and combine the potatoes mixture with the pasta.
Add the parmesan cheese and the pasta water and stir. How much pasta water you add is a matter of preference - some prefer it more soupy while others, drier.
As above, there are numerous versions of this dish - some add pancetta, while others like to add provolone. You could season with peperoncino (chili), or parsley, or a drizzle of olive oil or all of the above, but here, Nonna demonstrates her family's way.
Nonna explains that some people like theirs bianco / white / plain, while others like it rosso / red. This is done by either adding in a few spoons of sugo (sauce) if you have it already prepared, or adding tomatoes earlier on.
Whether bianco or rosso, both are delicious! Buon appetito!
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[@elizabethkusce2718]

My Nona said the same thing, things were hard but polenta made them healthy, warm milk with bread and sugar for breakfast. ❤ Thank you nona

[@nonnadibenedetto9942]

Il mio pranzo preferito ! Well done from one nonna to anotherx

[@nonnamia7890]

Buon giorno cara 'Nonno di Inghilterra'. I hope you are well and happy! It's lovely to hear from you!! xx

[@DSmith-gs4tr]

Amazing. Such a beautiful nonna. I'd be over for lunch everyday with this sweet lady cooking these amazing dishes

[@nonnamia7890]

Good morning bella .. that is so sweet of you! Come over! I'll prepare you a lovely lunch! :-) xox

[@DSmith-gs4tr]

@@nonnamia7890 I'll be right there

[@nonnamia7890]

@@DSmith-gs4tr wonderful!! 😍🤗🥰

[@debrahearn3759]

Thank you Nona!

[@nonnamia7890]

Prego cara mia!! xox

[@moneymoney5686]

I've never heard of pasta patate. Thank you for this

[@nonnamia7890]

Grazie cara! It’s a rustic dish with humble but delicious ingredients. I hope I can cook for you this year!! 🥰

[@laPatty0674]

Che buona la pasta e patate, è buona in tutto il mondo 😋 Ciao dall'Italia nonna Raffaella! 😘

[@nonnamia7890]

Meraviglioso! Da dove vieni in Italia?

[@laPatty0674]

@@nonnamia7890 dal Veneto

[@nonnamia7890]

@@laPatty0674🤩🤩🤩

[@cindysquirrelloffgrid9514]

I was so hoping that you'd have a story to tell. That looks very intriguing, I will have to try it. It amazes me how the mothers back then could invent dishes with what they had, and they tasted great. Have a blessed weekend

[@nonnamia7890]

Grazie cara Cindy - thank you for writing me. Necessity is the mother of all invention, right? :-) xx

[@rmrussorph]

Thank you for sharing Nonna ❤ Such a pleasure to watch you cook and to listen to you. It fills my heart with love ❤

[@nonnamia7890]

And it fills my heart to know this! Grazie mille cara Renee!! xoxo

[@Mary-dq9pe]

Love watching and listening to her! We make this too.

[@nonnamia7890]

Grazie tanto Mary. I am so glad you know Pasta e Patate too. I love it. So simple, but so good. Thanks so much for watching me. xox

[@caitogrady8747]

Wow would have never thought of that! Will add it to my list of dishes I must make

[@nonnamia7890]

It's nice to hear from you Cait and we look forward to seeing you next week. We hope you are feeling better!

[@valeriodeli7491]

Well done nonna, my english it's not perfect, but mia nonna la faceva sempre dalla bella Sicilia, grazie for your memories xxoo... Valerio from Australia

[@nonnamia7890]

Australia! Che bello ricevere un messaggio da lì. Dove sei in Australia? Anche la Sicilia è così bella! Sei fortunato!! A presto caro xx

[@valeriodeli7491]

@@nonnamia7890 ciao Nonna Mia, abito a Melbourne dove siamo rinchiusi da 2 mesi per il caso del virus....

[@carmelahowcroft2163]

Cara Nonna Mia, La Pasta e Patate come la faceva Mia Madre….Buon Appetito Paesana mia, con tanti saluti!

[@nonnamia7890]

Questo mi rende davvero felice! Grazie per avermelo fatto conoscere bella! xox

[@alessandradagostino6528]

Past e patat tropp buone!! Ciaooooo nonna

[@nonnamia7890]

Grazie bella. 100%!!

[@gabriellatulipano2752]

Love you Nonna. As cute as it gets

[@nonnamia7890]

Grazie cara mia! Love you so much! xoxox

[@LisaLisa-zl9vu]

My kids go crazy for pasta e broccoli! I love pasta e piselli. Pasta and beans was my least favorite growing up but I ate it!

[@nonnamia7890]

Oh I love pasta with beans. I grow my own. But I think piselli is my favourite too. We ate that tonight. 🥰

[@chihuahuasrule4279]

I love you Nonna !

[@nonnamia7890]

You warm my heart. Grazie cara Rosemary. 🥰

[@chihuahuasrule4279]

@@nonnamia7890 ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@francam5874]

Love pasta e patate. And easy to make❤️Thank you 👵

[@nonnamia7890]

Classico! e delizioso! xox

[@VeroLandzaat]

Ok … to be honest I made a small amount first to give it a go. Because I thought ; potato.. onion .. pasta and some Parmesan? That can’t be good 🙈 but I also thought.. ; she is an Italian nonna … they’re usually right . And you are! It is delicious 🤤

[@nonnamia7890]

Bravissima. I am so proud of you for making this dish. True - it seems like an odd mix - but it tastes so creamy - so good! xox

[@aris1956]

Hi ! Try making a creamy “Pasta e Patate” alla Napoletana (Neapolitan style), with smoked provolone cheese or smoked scamorza cheese, some Pancetta, and then you'll see the deliciousness you eat. Search on KZbin “ Pasta e patate alla napoletana”. The best ! Ciao from Italy. PS: In Italy you know certain dishes change from region to region and even from home to home.

[@gracecacciola3112]

Delicious! The best Italian comfort food!

[@nonnamia7890]

You couldn't have said it better cara! xx

[@TuckerSP2011]

Cucina povera is the best! My best memories are of the humble food that we would eat especially during Lent that had no meat like pasta fazool. I will try this soon!

[@nonnamia7890]

You are so right! Humble but incredible tasting too! xox

[@annjannace6957]

Papa was visiting his son & his german daughter-in-law say's Papa you want Hot-dog's or Hamburger's !....Papa said....You have a Potato & an onion ? I'll teach you how to make Pasta Cu Patate !....You mentioned during the war nobody had money to buy meat....& mentioned pasta with Broccoli, Pasta with escarole, pasta with Anchovies, etc, etc, I prefer all those Pasta dishes instead of a meat dish, a day without Pasta is a day without sunshine ! Nonna Love the way you broke off the spagetti in smaller piecies I do the same Italians know how to eat healthy & how to save a dollar Mama raised 5 children during depression & we never went hungry, it was a banquet every night XO Love You & Our Heritage

[@nonnamia7890]

Bella, I so so so love your story. Thank you for sharing it with me. And thank you for watching me. It means a lot. Buon Natale cara Ann. Baci 🥰🎅🥰🎅🥰

[@francescoscaglione5182]

That's still one of my favourite dish, nonna, although I prefer short pasta without tomato sauce. I wanna try spaghetti cut that way though. Thanx nonna for your tips and smile ☀️❤👍

[@nonnamia7890]

Bianco is the best! I don't even know why I break the pasta any more after doing it a lifetime. I guess old habits die hard! Ha ha. Sending you a big, big hug caro!! It's great to hear from you! xox

[@francescoscaglione5182]

@@nonnamia7890 nonna ❤

[@franceskloos1297]

Nonna I have not seen that recipe since my grandmother, she used to make it for me, I forgot until I saw you make it. I ❤️ the story about after the war my grandmother used to tell me stories also about making food from what you had and it is delicious. It warms my heart to watch you cook your family is very lucky to have you in their life and I am also glad to be able to watch you cook and share recipes and beautiful stories. 💐❤️

[@nonnamia7890]

It warms my heart that this brought back lovely memories of your Nonna! Thank you for encouraging me Frances!! I really appreciate it! xo

[@elizabethkusce2718]

Nona I live in barrie❤

[@nonnamia7890]

Barrie!! So close. My daughter lives there too. 🥰

[@aris1956]

Cara Nonna Mia, perché la pasta non l’hai cucinata insieme alle patate come facciamo di solito in Italia ?

[@nonnamia7890]

L'ho fatto in questo modo così a lungo che non ho una risposta per te, cara. 🙏