(Tocco di Noci)

So this sauce is more a thick paste than a traditional pasta sauce but I find it a really versatile base to which other ingredients can be added and which could be used in all kinds of dishes.

200g/7oz shelled walnuts
25g/1oz unflavoured breadcrumbs
2 garlic cloves, minced
30g/1oz finely grated Parmesan cheese
1 pinch minced fresh marjoram
175ml/6fl oz prescinseua (Ligurian curd cheese) or 150g/5fl oz fresh ricotta diluted with 2 tbsp tepid water
60ml/2.5fl oz extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to taste
sea salt (optional)

Place the walnuts, breadcrumbs, garlic and salt in a mortar and pound with a pestle to form a paste. Alternatively, place these ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until they form a paste. Transfer to a bowl if you are not using a pestle and mortar. Add the Parmesan and marjoram, then the prescinseua or diluted ricotta. Finally, add the olive oil to the mixture, a little at a time, stirring to combine the ingredients. Serve on hot pasta.

How I served it: (per person) 2tbs of the paste, 100g cooked pasta, along with some chopped sundried tomatoes, black olives and parsley, as well as some chili flakes. Seasoned with salt, pepper, olive oil and parmesan.