Image by @saltyseattle / Instagram Linda Miller Nicholson describes herself as a Pasta Ninja, and true to her name, this talented chef is recognized internationally because of her amazing handmade pasta art creations.
She’s been the subject of several documentaries and besides her hosting gig in an online pasta show on The Food Network, she also regularly appears on national TV.
The pasta artist re-imagines the likes of ravioli, macaroni, and tortellini in the most creative and colorful ways. The rainbow pasta not only look great but also taste great. And best of all, she only uses natural plant-based ingredients like turmeric and parsley make the pasta turn into yellow and green, respectively, while beets and blueberries provide the purple color.
Since Nicholson is the only one who makes these delectable food, she does not sell her pasta commercially. But if you’re interested to try making this yourself, you may check out her upcoming cookbook titled, “Pasta, Pretty Please,” which will be released in October 2018.
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Spiraling outta control with swirled pappardelle, pancetta, kimchi, gochujang, burrata, sous vide quail eggs, & black sesame. I've been stretching for ways to put kimchi on EVERYTHING lately, but in this instance, it was elemental, not flagrant. A delicate balance of all the important notes- acidity, heat, cream, crunch, salty, & lush. If these flavors from across the globe can get along so well, surely humanity can, too.
A post shared by Linda Miller Nicholson (@saltyseattle) on Aug 6, 2018 at 9:25am PDT
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💜Scarpinocc💙 If you've spent much time in Italy, you've undoubtedly found yourself in the midst of a sagra- festival- intentionally or otherwise. Italy is a country of extraordinary celebration, & boy, do they have sagre for virtually everything under the sun. Especially, food (& the wine that goes with it). I lived in Piemonte, the home of Nebbiolo, tartufo bianco, & agnolotti, to name my personal holy trinity. We basked in the scent of Alba white truffles while drinking wine alla spina poured from giant glass jugs called damigiane, often being overrun by organized flash mobs of color-coordinated flag twirlers amid a sea of hundreds of mint vintage Fiat Cinquecentos. 🇮🇹One region over from Piemonte is Lombardia, which Milan anchors. Smaller cities like Bergamo, Como, & Brescia add soul to the thriving, if slightly stiffer (puzza sotto il naso), aspects of the region. Initially I wasn't sure what compelled me to make this shape- scarpinocc- which is an Eastern Lombard dialect word that refers to old-fashioned cloth shoes women used to sew for kids. But then I remembered that the 3rd weekend of August plays host to the Sagra degli Scarpinocc, the scarpinocc festival, in Parre, Bergamo, Lombardia every year for 53 years running. 🇮🇹If you happen to find yourself in N. Italy this weekend, in need of a historical pasta fix, head to the festival, where vendors serve scarpinocc just as they did in simpler times, with breadcrumb, cheese, egg, & herb filling, accompanied by song, folklore dancers, & conviviality. My version includes the breadcrumbs & herbs of the original, however it's vegan, made flavorful with marcona almonds, sweet corn, & caramelized garlic. 🇮🇹Traditional scarpinocc look a bit more like dimpled casoncelli than these, & are often made from a circular pasta sheet rather than a rectangle before they're sealed & formed. I would venture to guess that this sleek style was popularized by the humbly brilliant San Francisco restaurant @flourandwatersf, who fill theirs with taleggio & serve with plenty of excellent balsamic. 🇮🇹Pasta dough made from butterfly pea flowers & dragonfruit.
A post shared by Linda Miller Nicholson (@saltyseattle) on Aug 15, 2018 at 8:12am PDT
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Stars & stripes bow tie pasta salad with tomato-lemon-rosemary confit, Argentine-grilled chicken, mozzarella, & peppadew peppers. This Independence Day, I'll be celebrating diversity, inclusion, togetherness, & respect for all of the cultures that make the US a colorful place to live. We have a ways to go, but I have faith that the good people in my country will do the right thing, & peace & unity will ultimately prevail.
A post shared by Linda Miller Nicholson (@saltyseattle) on Jul 4, 2018 at 8:27am PDT
