Galletto Vallespluga with olives

This cold dish can be prepared the day before and can be used as a starter. However, served with a good salad it can be considered a main dish, as done in France.

To make the broth, use a large pot to boil the Galletto with 1 carrot, 1 onion and 1 stick of celery for about 40 minutes. In the meantime, steam the carrots, green beans and peas and soak the gelatin in cold water.

When the broth is finished, remove the Galletto, bone them and cut into pieces. Strain the remaining hot broth and dissolve the gelatin (squeezing off the excess water) in the broth. Let the broth slightly cool.

Next, take a bread mold and pour in 1/3 of the cooled broth and put it in the fridge for 30 minutes. Retrieve the mold and evenly add a layer of the steamed peas, green beans and carrots to cover it completely. Over the vegetables add the pieces of Galletto with a sprinkling of chopped herbs. On top, add another 1/3 of the broth, then put the mold back in fridge for 30 minutes. Retrieve it and add the remaining vegetables and a sprinkling of chopped herbs and pour the remaining broth to fill the mold. Put in the fridge for another 3 hours.

To remove the mixture from the mold immerse the mold in boiling water for one minute and then turn it upside down on a serving platter.

After it has been kept at room temperature for about 30 minutes, cut into slices and serve with a drizzle of olive oil.

“This is an alternative “alpine” way to cook on the grill. In mountain huts they use fine stone slates similar to roof tiles, called “piode”, arranged over 2 stones in order to create a sloped surface.
Light the fire under the “pioda”, heating it slowly to avoid breaking it. When the slate is very hot, carefully place the Galletto opened (marinaded with oil, salt and herbs) on it. The heat is very low and cooking needs quite some time, even more than 1 hour, but it’s well worth the wait.”

First, boil the potatoes.
Meanwhile, finely chop the onion and fry in a pan with three tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Add the Galletto and cook until browned. Continue cooking for about 35 minutes, adding a little water if necessary.
Bone the Galletto and blend in a food processor with the egg.
When the potatoes are cooked, mash them and add the Galletto mixture, salt, pepper and the flour. Mix well until you have a dough-like consistency, then place it on a floured surface.
Using a knife, cut the dough into small dumplings.

To make the sauce, add the tomato pureé to a saucepan with a little oil, the basil leaves and a pinch of salt. Cook on a low heat for at least 25 minutes. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.

Boil salted water in a large saucepan and add the gnocchetti. As soon as they rise to the surface, drain and add to the tomato sauce, mixing well.
This is a good way to get reluctant or fussy children to eat meat.