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Desert Walker Cocktail (Sotol, Lime, & Nopales)

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A clear cocktail in a collins glass with mint and lemon twist garnish and a clear bottle of liquor in the back.

Desert Walker is inspired by the flavors of New Mexico but with a sotol twist, says Ashley Perry Lynn of Palace. “New Mexico is our oasis, so I combined the flavors of the desert with cooling flavors such as coconut and mint to create a fun and refreshing cocktail.” She’s a fan of Dry Point Desert Sotol for this cocktail, a collaboration between Dry Point Distillers in Las Cruces and a producer in Mexico, that has smokey pine and earthy vegetal notes. Add a little fresh lime for added acidity, and a homemade nopales syrup. It’s a refreshing taste of the desert in a glass.

A person pours sparkling water into a glass with a mint garnish and lemon twist as a bottle of sotol sits in the background.
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A clear cocktail in a collins glass with mint and lemon twist garnish and a clear bottle of liquor in the back.

Desert Walker Cocktail (Sotol, Lime, & Nopales)


  • Author: Ashley Perry Lynn, Palace

Description

The lesser known spirits can be the best to experiment with…


Ingredients

Scale

For the nopales simple syrup:

  • 2 cups of chopped nopales
  • Cane sugar
  • Pinch of citric acid


Instructions

  1. Dry shake (i.e. no ice) all of the ingredients except the Topo Chico.
  2. Strain and pour into a Collins glass.
  3. Add the Topo Chico to top off.
  4. Garnish with additional nopales and a mint bouquet.

For the nopales simple syrup:

  1. Use a stick blender to puree the nopales. If using jarred nopales, rinse them first to remove the brine.
  2. Strain the blitzed nopales through a strainer lined with cheese cloth.
  3. Weigh the strained juice and combine with an equal weight of cane sugar.
  4. Add a pinch of citric acid and blitz with a stick blender until completely blended.
  5. Place in a jar and refrigerate until ready to use. The syrup can be kept for up to three weeks.

Try a dish that also showcases local ingredients: Lemony Cauliflower with Red Chile Cilantro Pesto.

Recipe by Ashley Perry Lynn, Palace
Story by Julia Platt Leonard
Styling by Anna Franklin
Photography by Dave Bryce

TABLE Magazine New Mexico’s SOURCE section is created with the support of Ricky Allen and Tara Earley Real Estate Group. SOURCE finds the best locally made ingredients and artisanal products, as well as locally available luxuries for fashion and home. Ricky and Tara join us in our support of local businesses.

Subscribe to TABLE Magazine‘s print edition.

Corn Flan

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A corn flan sits in a round pan with a jar of chiles and an ear of corn below it.

This recipe is a dreamy side to serve with ham or grilled meats. It can be made ahead, and reheated. It’s perfect for a potluck because it’s tasty either hot out of the oven or served at room temperature. The star is Santa Fe School of Cooking’s own Hatch green chile – a cupboard staple that we’re never without.

A cob of corn sits in front of a Corn Flan, jar of chiles, and bread crumbs in the back.

What Exactly is Flan?

At its core, a combination of eggs and milk (or cream) makes a flan, with the addition of sugar for a dessert version. We gently cook these ingredients until they set into a smooth, sliceable custard. The key to this Corn Flan is how the heavy cream and eggs set around the corn. Unlike puddings or gelatin-based desserts, flan relies entirely on eggs for structure, and unlike cakes, it’s baked low and slow.

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A corn flan sits in a round pan with a jar of chiles and an ear of corn below it.

Corn Flan


  • Author: Santa Fe School of Cooking
  • Yield: Serves 8 to 10 1x

Description

Who knew corn could be so delicious?


Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs
  • 6 cups fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels, divided
  • 2 cups heavy cream, divided
  • 2 tsp corn starch
  • 1 cup Santa Fe School of Cooking Hatch green chile or 2 tbsp chipotle en adobo
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh marjoram or sage
  • 4 large eggs, well beaten
  • 1 cup grated Monterey Jack, cheddar or Fontina cheese (may be combined with Cojita, Romano or Asiago for a sharper flavor)
  • 1 tsp salt and black pepper to taste


Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 9×13 baking dish or 10 individual ramekins.
  2. Melt the butter and combine a third of it with the bread crumbs. Set aside.
  3. In a food processor, puree half the corn with half the cream, cornstarch and chile.
  4. In the pan with the remaining butter, add the green onions and sauté for 2 minutes.  Add the garlic and marjoram or sage and cook 2 minutes more.
  5. Place all the corn, corn puree, onion, and garlic in a bowl and mix well.  Stir in eggs, cheese and remaining cream. Season with salt and pepper and pour into prepared baking dish or ramekins.
  6. Sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake 45 to 50 minutes for a baking dish, 35 to 40 minutes for ramekins.

Try a cocktail that also showcases local ingredients, the Desert Walker with sotol, lime, and nopales.

Recipe from Santa Fe School of Cooking’s Flavors of the Southwest Cookbook
Story by Julia Platt Leonard
Styling by Anna Franklin
Photography by Dave Bryce

TABLE Magazine New Mexico’s SOURCE section is created with the support of Ricky Allen and Tara Earley Real Estate Group. SOURCE finds the best locally made ingredients and artisanal products, as well as locally available luxuries for fashion and home. Ricky and Tara join us in our support of local businesses.

Subscribe to TABLE Magazine‘s print edition.

Pistachio Martini

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A tall coupe glass with a brown chocolate looking cocktail and crushed rim.

The secret behind Tumbleweed Lounge’s Pistachio Martini is orgeat syrup – a silky, nutty, sweet concoction that is a key ingredient in Tiki cocktails like the (in)famous Mai Tai. But rather than use traditional almond orgeat, Kauffman makes a house made pistachio orgeat with pistachios from Heart of the Desert in Alamogordo, New Mexico. “I started by mixing our Tularosa Sotol with our house made pistachio orgeat to see what else to add,” says Kauffman.  “When I tasted it, I thought there was no need to add anything else.” You can make your own pistachio orgeat, or, even easier, purchase it online.

A Pistachio Martini gets poured into a coupe glass with nuts around the table.
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A tall coupe glass with a brown chocolate looking cocktail and crushed rim.

Pistachio Martini


  • Author: Peter Kauffman, Tumbleweed Lounge

Description

A pistachio-lovers dream cocktail.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 oz pistachio orgeat
  • 2 oz Tularosa Sotol or your favorite vodka
  • Pistachios, to garnish


Instructions

  1. Place the orgeat and sotol a cocktail shaker with ice, shake lightly, and pour into a Nick and Nora glass.
  2. Garnish with crushed pistachio.

Try a dish that also showcases local ingredients: Corn Flan.

Recipe by Peter Kauffman, Tumbleweed Lounge
Story by Julia Platt Leonard
Styling by Anna Franklin
Photography by Dave Bryce

TABLE Magazine New Mexico’s SOURCE section is created with the support of Ricky Allen and Tara Earley Real Estate Group. SOURCE finds the best locally made ingredients and artisanal products, as well as locally available luxuries for fashion and home. Ricky and Tara join us in our support of local businesses.

Subscribe to TABLE Magazine‘s print edition.

Celebrating the 2026 Winter Olympics with Cortina Recipes

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A bowl of rustic barley soup with carrots, spinach, and meat, served in a decorative white-rimmed bowl on dark wood, with a spoon resting in the bowl.

TABLE’s Italian correspondent Sara Ghedina was born in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the site (with Milan) of the 2026 Winter Olympics. By sharing some of the region’s most loved recipes, Sara invites us to immerse ourselves in the games and the culture of their host country. Prepare your feast for the opening ceremonies on February 6.

Cortina Recipes for the 2026 Winter Olympics

Casunziei Rossi (Red Beet Ravioli)

A plate of Casunziei Rossi (red beet ravioli) topped with grated parmesan and poppy seeds, garnished with a sage leaf and served with a fork on a patterned white and blue plate.

Crescent-shaped red beet ravioli are, hands down, the most famous dish from Cortina d’Ampezzo. They are part of this resort town’s attractions, along with the beautiful mountains and challenging ski slopes. Every mountain hut, hotel, or restaurant offers its own version, and of course, every family has their own recipe. The uniqueness of the ravioli lies mainly in the earthy and colorful filling. The pasta shell should be extra thin to allow for the flavor (and the color) of the beets to shine through.

I grew up eating homemade casunziei prepared with love by both my grandmothers. As kids we would argue which of the two versions was our favorite. My brother and my cousin were often competing against each other to see who was able to eat the most, with my brother usually winning. It wasn’t difficult, really, because doused in butter, poppy seeds, and freshly grated Parmigiano, they are that good!

Ampezzo-Style Potatoes

A plate of Ampezzo-style potatoes (sliced potatoes) with crispy speck and red onions, topped with black pepper and served on a patterned rustic plate with silver spoons and bread.

Cortina d’Ampezzo has always been a borderland. It is in the province of Belluno in the Veneto region, and was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire for more than a century until Italy annexed Cortina in 1918, at the end of World War I. From Veneto, Cortina has certainly inherited polenta, which some often serve with game meats, but local cuisine is generally from Austria and South Tyrol traditions. This is where speck comes in. It’s one of the most famous cured meats of the Tyrolean region and one of the Dolomites’ culinary specialties. Speck comes from boneless pork leg. It is both cured and smoked, which gives it a more intense flavor than its cousin, prosciutto.

Ampezzo-style potatoes are a warm and comforting side dish made with a few simple ingredients, but their flavor is so intense and unique that it immediately puts you in a “Dolomite mood.” Perfect for dinner after a day spent on the ski slopes, you can serve these potatoes as a main dish along with a green salad and a thick slice of local cheese. Quantities for this recipe are very approximate. My suggestion is to eyeball everything and use your instinct to add the ingredients in the amount your heart desires. If you can’t find speck, use smoked pancetta or bacon instead. The result will not have the same distinct flavor, but it will be equally satisfying.

Spinach Spätzle

A deep white bowl of green spinach spätzle topped with crispy speck and grated cheese, next to a glass of red wine and a piece of cheese on a rustic wooden table.

Spätzle are a type of dumpling typical of South Tyrolean cuisine. Traditional spätzle uses flour, eggs, and water as a side dish for meat courses. In Cortina you will find a green version, with spinach added to the basic dough. They are served on their own as a main course, just like gnocchi, usually topped with cream sauce and strips of sautéed speck. It is a rich and tasty dish perfect for Sunday lunch, dinner with friends, or any time you want to indulge.

They’re very easy to make, but you will need a spätzle maker, a tool similar to a horizontal grater with large holes that will let irregular drops of batter fall directly into the boiling water (you can easily find it online or in kitchen supply stores). Spätzle cook in just a few minutes. When they float to the surface, they’re ready to be tossed in the pan with the sauce, which will stick perfectly to the little dumplings, thanks to their irregular shape. You can also try them with melted butter and Parmesan cheese or with a simple tomato sauce, a less traditional variant that is nevertheless delicious.

Kaiserschmarrn

A kaisercharrn in a cast iron pan on a wood table.

Many of the desserts and pastries typically found in Cortina are of Austrian origin, such as Linzertorte, Sachertorte, Apple Strudel, or Krapfen. Kaiserschmarrn is no exception: in almost every mountain hut in Cortina you’ll find a local variation of the original Austrian treat, which was the favorite dessert of the Emperor (Kaiser in German) Franz Joseph, hence its name. A true energy boost after a day spent skiing or hiking, Kaiserschmarrn is not an omelet nor a crepe, but something in between. The simple batter made with egg, flour, and milk is enriched by chunks of apples and rum-soaked raisins, and the result is a giant, fluffy, and light pancake, which is then torn into bite-size pieces and served warm with lots of powdered sugar and cranberry preserve.

There are many ways to prepare Kaiserschmarrn. Omit the raisins or use water instead of rum to soak them for an alcohol-free version. Separate the eggs and beat the whites until stiff peaks form to have an even fluffier dessert. Substitute vanilla extract for lemon. Skip the apples if you prefer (although I do not recommend it). Whichever path you choose, this simple dish comes together in 15 minutes! Beyond dessert, it makes a great breakfast or brunch, and it is loved by adults and kids alike.

Barley Soup

A bowl of rustic barley soup with carrots, spinach, and meat, served in a decorative white-rimmed bowl on dark wood, with a spoon resting in the bowl.

Simple, warm, and comforting, this soup is ideal for an easy midweek dinner that will combine the convenience of everyday cooking with the nourishing goodness of your grandma’s’ recipes. Barley soup is a staple in South-Tyrolean cuisine and in the Dolomites, too. Its unique character comes once again from speck, which gives it a distinct smoky flavor. The traditional soup is made with whole barley grains, which need to be soaked overnight. However, most people now use pearled barley, which doesn’t need soaking and can be cooked immediately. If you want an even richer and creamier result, try adding 1 cup whole milk (or more) about 10 minutes before the soup is ready. This is how we used to make it at home, and it was pure heaven!

Story, Styling and Photography by Sara Ghedina

Subscribe to TABLE Magazine’s print edition.

Barley Soup

0
A bowl of rustic barley soup with carrots, spinach, and meat, served in a decorative white-rimmed bowl on dark wood, with a spoon resting in the bowl.

Simple, warm, and comforting, this soup is ideal for an easy midweek dinner that will combine the convenience of everyday cooking with the nourishing goodness of your grandma’s’ recipes. Barley soup is a staple in South-Tyrolean cuisine and in the Dolomites, too. Its unique character comes once again from speck, which gives it a distinct smoky flavor.

Tips for Making Barley Soup

The traditional soup is made with whole barley grains, which need to be soaked overnight. However, most people now use pearled barley, which doesn’t need soaking and can be cooked immediately. If you want an even richer and creamier result, try adding 1 cup whole milk (or more) about 10 minutes before the soup is ready. This is how we used to make it at home, and it was pure heaven!

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A bowl of rustic barley soup with carrots, spinach, and meat, served in a decorative white-rimmed bowl on dark wood, with a spoon resting in the bowl.

Barley Soup


  • Author: Sara Ghedina
  • Yield: Serves 4-6 1x

Description

This South-Tyrolean barley soup is hearty and comforting.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz pearled barley
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2 small carrots
  • 1 celery stalk
  • 1/4 lb speck or smoked pancetta, cut in thick slices
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 sage leaves
  • 2 medium-size potatoes, such as Yukon Gold
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • About 56 cups meat or vegetable stock + more water if needed
  • Salt and pepper to taste


Instructions

  1. Finely dice the onion, carrots, and celery. 
  2. Peel the potatoes and place them in a large bowl covered with water to help them release the starch. Set them aside while you make the soup. 
  3. Dice speck or pancetta and set it aside.
  4. Heat oil and butter in a large pot, add onion and peeled garlic cloves, and cook for about 10 minutes until translucent. 
  5. Add carrots and celery, season with salt and pepper, and cook at medium heat until vegetables have softened. 
  6. Add diced speck and sauté for a minute or two. 
  7. Add barley, sage, and bay leaves, and cook for another few minutes. 
  8. Add broth to cover the barley mixture generously. Simmer covered for about 45 minutes or until the barley is tender, stirring from time to time and adding more broth or water as needed. 
  9. Meanwhile, drain the potatoes and dice or cut them in chunks. About 10 minutes before barley is ready, add them to the soup and cook until they are tender. 
  10. Remove bay and sage leaves, adjust the seasoning if needed, and serve right away, topping each bowl with some chives and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.

Recipe, Styling and Photography by Sara Ghedina

Subscribe to TABLE Magazine’s print edition.

Kaiserschmarrn, a Dessert from Cortina

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A kaisercharrn in a cast iron pan on a wood table.

Many of the desserts and pastries typically found in Cortina are of Austrian origin, such as Linzertorte, Sachertorte, Apple Strudel or Krapfen. Kaiserschmarrn is no exception: in almost every mountain hut in Cortina you’ll find a local variation of the original Austrian treat, which was the favourite dessert of the Emperor (Kaiser in German) Franz Joseph, hence its name. A true energy boost after a day spent skiing or hiking, Kaiserschmarrn is not an omelette nor a crepe, but something in between.

A plate of the Cortina dessert kaiserscharrn cut up into pieces with a knife and fork.

What is the Cortina Dessert Kaiserschmarrn?

The simple batter uses egg, flour and milk that you enrich with chunks of apples and rum-soaked raisins. The result is a giant, fluffy, and light pancake, which is then torn into bite-size pieces and served warm with lots of powdered sugar and cranberry preserve. As always, there are many different ways to prepare Kaiserschmarrn: you can omit the raisins or use water instead of rum to soak them for an alcohol-free version, you can separate the eggs and beat the whites until stiff peaks form to have an even fluffier result, you can substitute vanilla extract for lemon, and you can skip the apples if you prefer (although I do not recommend it). Whichever way, it is a simple dish that comes together in 15 minutes, it also makes a great option for breakfast or brunch (and sometimes dinner!), and both adults and kids love it.

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A kaisercharrn in a cast iron pan on a wood table.

Kaiserschmarrn, a Dessert from Cortina


  • Author: Sara Ghedina
  • Yield: Serves 4

Description

Somewhere between an omelette and a crepe.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/3 cup raisins
  • 2 tbsp rum
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 cup milk
  • 4 medium eggs
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/2 lemon (grated zest only)
  • 2 small apples
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • Powdered sugar and cranberry preserve as needed


Instructions

  1. Soak raisins with rum and set aside while you prepare the batter.
  2. Whisk together flour and milk, stirring vigorously until the batter is fairly thick and smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, sugar, salt, and lemon zest and mix again.
  3. Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples (you could also dice them if you prefer). Add them to the batter along with the drained raisins, and mix well.
  4. Melt butter in a large pan over medium heat, pour the batter into it few tablespoons at a time, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it thickens, and swirling the pan often. Alternatively, you could pour the Kaiserschmarrn mixture in the pan all at once and treat it like an omelet, cooking it on both sides and breaking it into bite-size pieces when it’s done.
  5. Serve it warm, sprinkled with lots of powdered sugar and accompanied by a spoonful of cranberry jam.

Recipe, Styling and Photography by Sara Ghedina

Subscribe to TABLE Magazine’s print edition.

Spinach Spätzle

0
A deep white bowl of green spinach spätzle topped with crispy speck and grated cheese, next to a glass of red wine and a piece of cheese on a rustic wooden table.

Spätzle are a type of dumpling typical of South Tyrolean cuisine. Traditional spätzle uses flour, eggs, and water, and is generally a side dish for meat courses. In Cortina you will find a green version, with spinach added to the basic dough. They are served on their own as a main course, just like gnocchi, usually topped with cream sauce and strips of sautéed speck. It is a rich and tasty dish perfect for Sunday lunch, dinner with friends, or any time you want to indulge.

Don’t Forget Your Spätzle Maker

They’re very easy to make, but you will need a spätzle maker, a tool similar to a horizontal grater with large holes that will let irregular drops of batter fall directly into the boiling water (you can easily find it online or in kitchen supply stores). Spätzle cook in just a few minutes. When they float to the surface, they’re ready for you to toss them in the pan with the sauce, which will stick perfectly to the little dumplings, thanks to their irregular shape. You can also try them with melted butter and Parmesan cheese or with a simple tomato sauce, a less traditional variant that is nevertheless delicious.

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A deep white bowl of green spinach spätzle topped with crispy speck and grated cheese, next to a glass of red wine and a piece of cheese on a rustic wooden table.

Spinach Spätzle


  • Author: Sara Ghedina
  • Yield: Serves 4

Description

Spinach Spätzle is a South Tyrolean specialty where tender green dumplings meet a rich cream-and-speck sauce.


Ingredients

Scale

For the spätzle:

  • 2 lb fresh spinach
  • 3 medium eggs
  • 2 ½ to 3 cups flour
  • pinch of nutmeg
  • salt and pepper to taste

For the sauce:

  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1/4 lb speck, cut in thick slices
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Parmigiano cheese to serve


Instructions

  1. For the spätzle, wash spinach thoroughly. Drain and place in a large, dry pan. Cook on medium heat until completely wilted, adding few tablespoons of water if needed and stirring often to prevent them from sticking. It will take about 7-8 minutes.
  2. Remove from heat and let the spinach cool off a bit, then squeeze over a strainer to remove as much water as possible.
  3. Place spinach in a large bowl. Puree using an immersion blender until creamy or chop very finely with a knife. Season with salt, pepper, and freshly grated nutmeg.
  4. Add eggs one at a time and whisk to combine.
  5. Gradually add flour and stir with a spoon to incorporate it into the mixture, taking care not to form lumps. You may need flour depending on the spinach. The batter should have a creamy consistency and you want it to be slightly thicker than pancake batter. You need to be able to pour it into the spätzle maker without it flowing through the holes too fast, but you also want to avoid adding too much flour or else the spätzle will be too chewy, and the spinach flavor will be less intense. If you’re in doubt, take about 1 teaspoon of batter and place it in boiling water, cook it for few minutes and see if it holds the shape. Once ready, set the spätzle batter aside.
  6. For the sauce, cut speck into strips about ¾ inch long. Melt the butter in a large pan, add speck and fry it for 2-3 minutes until crispy. Pour in the heavy cream, season with salt and pepper, and let the sauce thicken over moderate heat. Keep it warm while you prepare the spätzle.
  7. Bring a pot filled with salted water to a boil, place the spätzle maker on top and pour few tablespoons of batter at a time over it, sliding the hopper back and forth to let the spätzle fall into the water. You’ll likely need to do this in several batches. When the spätzle float, cook them for one more minute. Then using a slotted spoon, transfer them to the pan with the sauce.
  8. Sauté for one minute, stirring gently, adjust the seasoning if needed, and serve them immediately in individual bowls, topping each one with a generous amount of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Recipe, Styling and Photography by Sara Ghedina

Subscribe to TABLE Magazine’s print edition.

Ampezzo-Style Potatoes

0
A plate of Ampezzo-style potatoes (sliced potatoes) with crispy speck and red onions, topped with black pepper and served on a patterned rustic plate with silver spoons and bread.

Cortina d’Ampezzo has always been a borderland. It is in the province of Belluno in the Veneto region, and was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire for more than a century until Cortina was annexed by Italy in 1918, at the end of World War I. From Veneto, Cortina has certainly inherited polenta, which is often served with game meats, but local cuisine is generally heavily inspired by traditions from Austria and South Tyrol. This is where speck comes in. It’s one of the most famous cured meats of the Tyrolean region and one of the Dolomites’ culinary specialties. Speck is produced from boneless pork leg. It is both cured and smoked, which gives it a more intense flavor than its cousin, prosciutto.

Chef Sara Ghedina’s Tips for Ampezzo-Style Potatoes

Ampezzo-style potatoes are a warm and comforting side dish made with a few simple ingredients, but their flavor is so intense and unique that it immediately puts you in a “Dolomite mood.” Perfect for dinner after a day spent on the ski slopes, these potatoes can also be served as a main dish along with a green salad and a thick slice of local cheese. Quantities for this recipe are very approximate. My suggestion is to eyeball everything and use your instinct to add the ingredients in the amount your heart desires. If you can’t find speck, use smoked pancetta or bacon instead. The result will not have the same distinct flavor, but it will be equally satisfying.

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
A plate of Ampezzo-style potatoes (sliced potatoes) with crispy speck and red onions, topped with black pepper and served on a patterned rustic plate with silver spoons and bread.

Ampezzo-Style Potatoes


  • Author: Sara Ghedina
  • Yield: Serves 4

Description

A rustic Dolomite dish made with golden potatoes, sweet onions, and smoky speck. 


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 lb potatoes such as Yukon Gold
  • 2 small red onions
  • 1/4 lb speck, cut in thick slices
  • 45 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste


Instructions

  1. Wash potatoes thoroughly, removing any residual dirt. Cut them in half and leave them in a bowl of water for at least 15 minutes. This will help remove starch and prevent them from sticking together while cooking.
  2. Drain and rinse, then place them in a large pot, cover with cold water. Add salt. Simmer for 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes. They should be slightly softened, but still firm.
  3. Remove from heat and drain. Let them cool off, then peel if you’d like (I prefer to leave the skin on for this recipe). Cut them in thick slices or chunks and set aside.
  4. Cut speck into thick strips about 3/4 inch long. You could also dice, if you prefer.
  5. Peel and slice onions and set them aside.
  6. Heat 2 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil in a large pan. Add speck and cook for 2-3 minutes until crispy. Place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil and let cool off.
  7. In the same pan, add 2-3 tablespoons olive oil. When hot, add the potatoes and sauté over high heat until golden brown: they should get a little crunchy on the outside. Add the sliced onions and sauté for another 10-15 minutes until onions get soft.
  8. Season with salt and pepper, add the reserved speck stripes, cook for another few minutes and serve.

Recipe, Styling and Photography by Sara Ghedina

Subscribe to TABLE Magazine’s print edition.

Casunziei Rossi (Red Beet Ravioli)

0
A plate of Casunziei Rossi (red beet ravioli) topped with grated parmesan and poppy seeds, garnished with a sage leaf and served with a fork on a patterned white and blue plate.

Crescent-shaped Red Beet Ravioli are, hands down, the most famous dish from Cortina d’Ampezzo. They are part of this resort town’s attractions, along with the beautiful mountains and challenging ski slopes. Every mountain hut, hotel, or restaurant offers its own version, and of course, every family has their own recipe. The uniqueness of the ravioli lies mainly in the earthy and colorful filling. The pasta shell should be extra thin to allow for the flavor (and the color) of the beets to shine through.

Chef Sara Ghedina’s Memories of Casunziei Rossi (Red Beet Ravioli)

I grew up eating homemade casunziei prepared with love by both my grandmothers. As kids we would argue which of the two versions was our favorite. My brother and my cousin were often competing against each other to see who was able to eat the most, with my brother usually winning. It wasn’t difficult, really, because doused in butter, poppy seeds, and freshly grated Parmigiano, they are that good!

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A plate of Casunziei Rossi (red beet ravioli) topped with grated parmesan and poppy seeds, garnished with a sage leaf and served with a fork on a patterned white and blue plate.

Casunziei Rossi (Red Beet Ravioli)


  • Author: Sara Ghedina
  • Yield: Serves 4

Description

Casunziei Rossi are delicate crescent-shaped ravioli filled with earthy red beets and potatoes, a beloved specialty from Cortina d’Ampezzo. 


Ingredients

Scale

For the dough:

  • 7 oz type 00 flour
  • 3.5 oz semolina flour
  • 3 large eggs + 1 to assemble the casunziei
  • Pinch of salt
  • Additional semolina flour to dust

For the filling:

  • 1 lb red beets (cooked)
  • 1/3 lb russet potatoes (cooked)
  • 12 tbsp breadcrumbs
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper to taste

To serve:

  • 5 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp poppy seeds
  • 45 sage leaves (optional)
  • Grated Parmesan cheese to taste


Instructions

  1. For the filling, bring a large pot of water to boil. Cover witha steamer basket and add the beets and potatoes, unpeeled. Steam until tender, about 30 to 45 minutes. (Instead of steaming, you could also bake the beets and potatoes, wrapped individually in aluminum foil, so that they will absorb less water and the flavor will be more intense.)
  2. Remove from the heat and let the vegetables cool a bit. Peel and mash through a ricer. Mix them together, calculating 2/3 of the weight for the beets and 1/3 for the potatoes.
  3. To drain excess moisture, set the pureed mixture in a fine mesh strainer over a bowl for about 20-30 minutes.
  4. Melt the butter in a large skillet, add the breadcrumbs, stir and cook for two minutes until lightly toasted. Add the pureed vegetables, season with cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and black pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes to absorb any remaining moisture, remove from the stove, and let cool down. The filling can be prepared a day in advance and refrigerated.
  5. For the pasta dough, combine the flour and the semolina and mound the mixture on a board. Make a well in the center and break the eggs into it. Add a pinch of salt, then using a fork, gently break up the eggs and start to incorporate the flour a little at a time. When you’ve incorporated enough flour to form a dough, use your hands and knead until it all comes together and the dough is smooth and elastic. If it seems too dry, dip your hands in water and knead again for a minute, if it seems too wet, add a sprinkle of flour and knead to combine.
  6. Roll the dough into a ball, cover it with plastic wrap, and allow to rest at room temperature for 30-45 minutes.
  7. To assemble the casunziei, divide the dough into 4 or 5 equal pieces. Using a pasta machine or a rolling pin, roll each piece into a thin sheet, about 1.5 mm thickness. While rolling out each piece, make sure to keep the remaining pasta covered with a damp kitchen towel. Cut the pasta sheet into circles using a round cutter (about 3 inch diameter). Place about 1 teaspoon of filling in the middle of each circle, leaving the edges clear. Lightly beat an egg with 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl and brush the mixture on the edges of each pasta circle, fold it in half over the filling to create a crescent shape, then press down on the edges to seal well.
  8. Sprinkle some flour on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place finished casunziei on it. Repeat the process with the remaining dough.
  9. To cook and serve the casunziei, bring a large pot of water to boil, and add salt as needed.
  10. Meanwhile, place the butter in a pan and melt it on low heat. Add the poppy seeds and sage leaves, if using, to gently toast  them, making sure not to let the butter brown. Remove from heat.
  11. When the water is boiling, gently place the casunziei into the pot. They should float when cooked, and as they are ready scoop them out with a slotted spoon, draining as much water as possible. Lay them in the pan with the melted butter and toss to coat. Serve immediately, drizzling any remaining butter over them and sprinkling with a generous amount of freshly grated Parmigiano cheese.

Recipes, Styling and Photography by Sara Ghedina

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The Ultimate Guide to Super Bowl Party Planning

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Three people cheers three glasses of beer in the center of a spead of foods like pizza, burgers, chips.

Make yourself a plate, grab a drink, and grab a seat with a good view! It’s time for Super Bowl Sunday! Whether you watch it for the game, the commercials, or the half-time performance, according to the NFL, about 60% of the United States population will be watching kick off. Make the most of your Super Bowl this year with planning tips that’ll take your party from a couple of friends and a six-pack to an extravaganza of delicious foods, drinks, and plenty of fun. You’ll feel so prepared that you can plan on actually watching the game this year instead of tending to the party itself. 

The Ultimate Guide to Super Bowl Party Planning

A martini glass with a red color cocktail and a mint garnish.

Mix Up a Ward 8 for the True New England Patriots Fans

Celebrate your New England spirit with this Patriots-ready Ward 8 cocktail. This is a Boston-born classic that blends rye whiskey with citrus and grenadine for a bold, balanced sip honoring its historic roots in the city’s Eighth Ward. It’s perfect for toasting Super Bowl LX as well as honoring the New England Patriots. Try the recipe here!

A green last word cocktail in a coupe glass with a lime wedge garnish.

Shake Up a Cocktail for Seattle Seahawks Fans

The modern legend of the Last Word cocktail was forged in Seattle when bartender Murray Stenson resurrected the then-forgotten recipe. Raise a glass to the Seahawks with this spirited twist on this city staple. A balanced blend of herbal gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino, and fresh lime combine into something bright and tangy that’s perfect for Seattle’s Super Bowl LX journey. Shake one up here!

An overhead view of The best Wendy's Copycat chili in a bowl with grated cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream in a white bowl, with small bowls of sour cream, grated cheddar, and pepper, a couple saltine crackers, parsley sprigs and a gold spoon on a wooden surface.

Prepare What You Can Ahead of Time

Rushing around the morning of the Super Bowl to make all the preparations you need for the evening can be stressful. Simplify things by making what you can ahead of time. Chili is a great dish to prepare in advance that’s easy to make in big quantities for plenty of guests. Try our crowd pleasing Wendy’s Copycat Chili… just make sure you double or triple the recipe depending on your headcount. Then, you can ask your guests to bring crackers, cheese, chopped onion, or other accompaniments for a potluck style garnish situation.

Five homemade Empanadas sit on green wax paper. the Empanada in the middle has half of it eaten. homemade Empanadas recipe

Create the Perfect Menu of Bite and Cocktail Pairings

Don’t leave your guests overwhelmed by sweet, spicy, or salty flavors. Create a menu that balances bold food flavors with a cocktail counterpart. In our Bites and Cocktail Pairing article, we give you a variety of perfectly paired bites and cocktails resulting in flavor profiles that are just right. You’ll look like a culinary expert in front of all your friends!

A Hot Bunny Smash in a yellow color sits in a cocktail glass with a tajin rim, lime slice, and hot pepper garnish.

Prep a Cocktail for Halftime

But, if you want something specific to Super Bowl LX, we’ve created a Hot Bunny Rum Smash cocktail in honor of Bad Bunny’s halftime performance. This recipe uses a Puerto Rican white rum along with orange juice, lime juice, habanero pepper slices, hot honey, as well as Tajín around the rim. Talk about a spicy way to heat up your excitement for the show!

A flat-lay image of an Edamame and Kale hummus dish with carrots, cucumbers, and radishes surrounding the plate.

Make Sure You Have Dietary Options

As much fun as the fried food on a Super Bowl night is, not everyone has the same dietary rules. By having some healthy plant-based, meat-free options, you can make sure that all your guests have something to enjoy. Check out our Healthy Game Day Recipes for a variety of dishes that are as delicious as they are good for you. Maybe you’ll make Fennel and Coriander Cashews for a quick snack or Edamame and Kale Hummus for a bigger bite.

Lowball glass with a pickleback mocktail inside topped with pickle spears and kosher salt on the rim as it sits on a grey table.

Batch a Cocktail but Be Mocktail Inclusive

While many consider making a batch cocktail (like our Sparkling Pomegranate Cosmo) available at their Super Bowl party, mocktail inclusions for those who abstain from alcohol are all the rage. Don’t let your friends feel left out when toasting touchdowns throughout the evening. The best part is that many mocktails use the same core ingredients as popular cocktails so you won’t have to add much to your shopping list. Get started with our tasty Mocktail Recipes and then let your creativity fly. You can even create your own kid-friendly “mocktail” so the little ones can have a special drink too. 

dessert bars

Don’t Forget About Dessert

Whenever you’re focusing on main dishes and drinks, it’s easy to forget about one of the most important preparations, dessert. But, you also don’t want your dessert dishes to take up all your cooking time and end up with a table of sweets and nothing else. Make things a little simpler this year with our Dessert Bar Recipes that can be made ahead of time and are the perfect handheld treat. We even have a recipe for Gluten-Free, Vegan Jammy Blueberry Bars so you can have an option for those with dietary restrictions.

Set Yourself Up for Easy Cleanup 

Using your regular dinnerware is fine for a small gathering, but, let’s be honest, most people will be paying attention to the game, not your plates. Cleanup is easier with paper plates that are compostable, biodegradable, and eco-friendly. When the time comes to clean up, just scoop any extra compostable food and the plates into your compost bin and let nature do its work. You can also ask guests to bring their own take-home container to take home leftovers.

Still itching for more Super Bowl recipes? Check out our Super Bowl Spread for more ideas.

Story by Kylie Thomas
Photo courtesy of Elevate

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