Chocolate Pasta? You've got to be kidding!
I kid you not: chocolate fettuccine. While some might balk at such a combination, I whole-heartedly welcomed the chance to try something so novel.
On a recent trip to Seattle's famed Pike Place Markets I spotted the extraordinary pasta when squeezing my way through the ravenous Saturday crowds.
The dried chocolate pasta and a whole range of interesting artisan noodles are sold at Papparadelles Pasta stand.
I served the pasta at a dinner party for dessert but it was more like the main course of the meal. I served it with cream which I had whipped until it was frothy and then mixed with a freshly made raspberry sauce. I added a dash of cointreau to the cream for a subtle citrus aroma.
A pasta dish isn't ready until it's been topped with some cheese so I grated on some dark, semi-sweet chocolate.
The verdict: it was a hit. But honestly, it wasn't out-of-this-world mind-blowing. I think it was more a combination of the novelty of chocolate pasta and the heavenly raspberry cream sauce that had everyone so giddy. The pasta itself is not sweet and tastes like unsweetened cocoa.
I personally prefer fresh pasta and think that the end result is always better. One day when I have a pasta machine I'm going to try my hand at freshly made chocolate ravioli with an orange mousse centre.
Until that day comes, I'll keep buying dried chocolate pasta as it's lots of fun.
Chocolate Fettuccine with a Raspberry Cream Sauce
Chocolate Pasta for 4
1 cup of cream
1 punnet of raspberries
Scant 1/2 cup of castor sugar
1 1/2 tsp of cointreau
Method:
- Place the raspberries and castor sugar in a small pot. Heat over a medium high heat, stirring occasionally. Break the raspberries down with the back of a spoon. Simmer for about 4 minutes.
- Strain the liquid from the raspberries and then refrigerate. Discard the pulp.
- Beat the cream with an electric beater until a little frothy. Add the cooled raspberry sauce and beat for 30 seconds. Mix in the cointreau with a spoon.
- Boil the chocolate pasta for 5 minutes, drain and then add 1 tsp of olive oil. Mix well and then cool for about 5 minutes.
- Just before serving spoon the raspberry cream onto the pasta and top with freshly grated semi-sweet chocolate.
Good find, Syrie :) How deeply did it taste of chocolate?
The plating of the dessert is just fantastic!
Posted by: Manggy | 23 June 2008 at 01:58 PM
That is quite a fun dessert for a dinner party. My gourmet group would be quite excited. I'll have to have my sis pick some up for me at Pikes!
Posted by: RecipeGirl | 23 June 2008 at 02:18 PM
oh my goodness!! when i made my chocolate sausages i thought it was crazy..seeing this chocolate fetuccine of yours..i think this world has really gone up side down ..really delicious!
Posted by: dhanggit | 23 June 2008 at 07:28 PM
Some of your pics are simply fabulous. I especially love the first one here!
Posted by: TBC | 24 June 2008 at 10:01 AM
Wow fascinating! I don't know anywhere around here I can get chocolate pasta, but I recently got a pasta machine and this looks like a fun first try at a sweet pasta dish:-)
Posted by: Marc @ NoRecipes | 24 June 2008 at 01:10 PM
I can't wait for you to make chocolate ravioli! I'm sure the pictures will be divine.
Posted by: Julia | 25 June 2008 at 03:33 AM
Wow. The boundaries, when it comes to food, are endless. I love the way you prepared it and decorated the plate!
Posted by: Hillary | 25 June 2008 at 04:49 AM
Thanks Hillary! It's pretty mind boggling isn't it!
Me too Julia. Although it might be a little while yet. Will keep you posted and thanks for visiting!
I'm jealous Marc! Can't wait to hear about all your experiments.
Thank you so much TBC!
Chocolate sausages! Now that is different. Thanks for visiting Dhanggit.
Have a great party Recipegirl! Hope you like it.
Thanks so much Manggy. Not very strong. If I were to make it I think I would use a richer, raw cocoa powder.
Posted by: Syrie | 25 June 2008 at 09:06 AM
I have never had chocolate pasta but it sounds really interesting. I will have to look for some. Serving it with raspberries sounds like a good idea.
Posted by: Kevin | 25 June 2008 at 12:11 PM
That is absolutely exciting, Syrie! And you served it so beautifully!
Posted by: Patricia Scarpin | 26 June 2008 at 02:36 AM
Love raspberries, they are the prettiest berries, don't you think? Love your picture and choc pasta!!
Posted by: Rasa Malaysia | 26 June 2008 at 12:58 PM
Really beautiful photos. I hope that you get to make your own one day with your own pasta machine.
Posted by: Vegeyum Ganga | 26 June 2008 at 09:26 PM
Wow - gorgeous pictures!
Alexandra
Posted by: Sweet Tooth | 26 June 2008 at 10:18 PM
I don't know why I didn't mention this before, but I'm hosting Presto Pasta Nights this week and this should DEFINITELY be in the roundup!
Posted by: Hillary | 27 June 2008 at 01:20 AM
I'm a compulsive pasta maker and chocolatier . . . so I now have to make this pasta, but I'll aim for something sweeter when I put together my pasta dough, so it's more of a full-on dessert dish. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Food Rockz Man | 27 June 2008 at 04:07 AM
I've never heard of chocolate pasta either but now that I've seen this post, I may not be able to get it out of my mind! I wonder if my parents still have their pasta maker...
PS I second adding it to the PPN roundup!
Posted by: Avra | 27 June 2008 at 04:08 AM
Wow, the last time I had chocolate pasta was in cooking school and I thought my Chef was Insane. This looks outstanding though.. I'm gonna have to dig out my old papers from college and find that old recipe.
Posted by: Ashley | 27 June 2008 at 04:13 AM
I once ordered fresh chocolate pasta at a crazy fancy restaurant in Las Vegas. It was a combination of sweet and savory, and to this day I'm still not sure if it was good or not. I love that you served this with dessert with fresh raspberry sauce. It looks like a treat, but certainly order the fresh version if you ever have the change. Thanks for the lovely photos!
Posted by: GirlCanBake | 27 June 2008 at 07:26 AM
What fun!
Posted by: Chez US | 27 June 2008 at 08:00 AM
i had chocolate noodles in shanghai once. a cute idea and it actually tasted pretty good as well. i think i remember it coming with a passionfruit puree that was amazing.
Posted by: Becky | 27 June 2008 at 09:13 AM
A beautiful plate and a great idea of dessert!
Posted by: Thip | 27 June 2008 at 12:14 PM
Hi everyone, thank you so much for visiting and for your wonderful comments. Glad you all enjoyed the chocolate pasta.
Posted by: Syrie | 28 June 2008 at 03:31 AM
awww, that's beautiful..
i'm sure these photos got you the prize for good looking blog..
thanks for the post
Mary from Cooking Recipe Videos
Posted by: mary | 03 July 2008 at 08:50 AM
Gorgeous plating & styling! Hope it tasted as great as it looked :)
Posted by: Erin | 05 July 2008 at 10:02 PM
Very elegant!!
Posted by: mycookinghut | 22 July 2008 at 07:43 AM
This looks and sounds amazing. When are you launching your book?
Posted by: Jonathan | 12 August 2008 at 11:03 PM
Congratulations on your win!
Posted by: Tartelette | 13 August 2008 at 12:33 PM
Very good presentation. Can you write the recipe of the chocolate pasta?
Posted by: Vinod Kumar | 23 February 2009 at 04:07 AM