PASTA QUEST…JUNE 23...PASTA PUTANESCA CRUDO

Paul and Louis will join us for dinner tonight. They are great dinner guests and we always enjoy ourselves when they are here. Tonight I will try a variation of Pasta putanesca…(pasta of the whores). Unlike the traditional dish, the ingredients will remain uncooked (crudo).





INGREDIENTS:

Spaghetti
Diced tomatoes
Kalamata olives, about ½ to 2/3 of a cup, coarsely chopped
Anchovie fillets, 2-3
Capers, 1 -2 teaspoons, rinsed
3-4 fresh basil leaves coarsely chopped
Arugula, coarsely chopped
Olive oil
Garlic, 1 large or 2 smaller cloves passed through a garlic press
Red pepper flakes

PROCESS:

Mince the anchovies and mix well with the pressed garlic in a teaspoon of water and set aside. Mix all of the ingredients in a bowel and allow to sit for 1-2 hours.

Drain the pasta and place in serving bowl, preserving some of the pasta water. Add the tomato mixture and mix well.

COMMENTS:

Everyone except Patience had seconds so I consider the dish an unqualified success. Quoting Paul…”the mixture of subtle flavors suddenly explodes in your mouth” It was very, very good, as was the entire evening. So good that I forgot to take the photos I had planned. (I don’t know if it was the wine, the after dinner digestivas, or all the laughing…probably a bit of everything.

Note...at the last minute I decided to saute the garlic and anchovies before adding them to the mixture.


The remains of a delightful evening.