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Piadine with nduja, stracchino and slow-roasted tomatoes

Neil Perry
Neil Perry

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Nduja is a spreadable salami made with chilli. Stracchino is a soft, rindless cows' milk cheese from northern Italy.
Nduja is a spreadable salami made with chilli. Stracchino is a soft, rindless cows' milk cheese from northern Italy.Supplied
Time:1-2 hoursMakes:8 piadine

Quick and easy to make, the piadina - the taco of Italy - houses a sweet or savoury filling with equal dash. Here's how it's done.

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Ingredients

  • 8 small, ripe roma tomatoes

  • sea salt and freshly ground pepper

  • balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil

  • 250g nduja

  • 350g stracchino, sliced

  • for the piadine

  • 400g plain flour (or bread flour)

  • 1 tbsp baking powder

  • large pinch of salt

  • 40g lard, at room temperature

  • 80g baby rocket leaves and lemon wedges, to serve

Method

  1. Halve the tomatoes lengthways and place on a baking tray. Season well and splash over some balsamic vinegar and oil. Roast at 120°C for 1-1 1/2 hours until softened and slightly dehydrated.

    For the piadine, sift the flour, baking powder and salt into the bowl of a mixer with the dough hook attached. Add the lard and mix on a low speed. Gradually add about 200ml lukewarm water until a smooth dough forms. It should feel soft, silky and pliable: if it's too wet, it will be difficult to handle; if it's too dry, it will crack easily. Form into 8 balls and leave to rest for 30 minutes on a floured surface, covered with a damp towel.

    For the best results, roll the piadine to order and cook in a cast-iron pan. You could also try doing them on the barbecue or in a good-quality non-stick pan; the trick is to get it super-hot.

    When the pan is very hot, add the dough disc (about 2mm thick), having first shaken off any excess flour. It will start to bubble and lift off the pan. Rotate the dough for even cooking until it has brown spots across the base, then flip the piadina and turn the heat down.

    Spread over some njuda, stracchino and a couple of the roasted tomato halves. Fold the disc over and continue to cook on each side until the filling is melted and warm.

    Serve immediately with fresh rocket leaves and lemon wedges.

    After cooking a few piadine, a residue of browned flour will build up on the pan which will need to be wiped off before cooking more.

    (Note: stracchino may need to be ordered in advance from an Italian delicatessen or cheese shop.)

    Serves 4

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Neil PerryNeil Perry is a restaurateur, chef and former Good Weekend columnist.

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