Summer Pasta Puttanesca

Recipe by Cook's Hideout

Weather in our neck of woods is very Spring like -- hot one day, sprinkles and chilly the next day. Spring is one of my favorite seasons -- I love the budding trees, blooming flowers and the crisp mornings. Not many might agree with me, which includes my husband and my son, who suffer from Spring allergies. But I still like spring. Coming back to today's pasta dish, I watched this being made on America's Test Kitchen cook show and I really liked how the chef made a fresh tomato sauce using grape tomatoes. Grape tomatoes are consistently good all...

Ingredients

• 4 oz pasta (. Campanelle)
• 1 cup Grape Cherry tomatoes (or (about 14~16 grape tomatoes))
• 2 cloves garlic (, minced)
• a pinch Red chili (flakes)
• a pinch Oregano (Dried)
• 3 tbsps kalamata olives (- pitted and chopped)
• 1 tbsp roasted chickpeas (Capers - drained, rinsed and minced)
• 3 tbsps parsley (Fresh - finely chopped)
• to taste Salt

Method

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1cup of cooking water, drain the pasta and return to the pot.
2. Blend the tomatoes until finely chopped but not pureed, about 15~45 seconds. Transfer to a fine-mesh sieve and let the juice drain for 5 minutes, press with the back of the spoon to extract liquid. Reserve the tomato liquid in the bowl and the pulp in the strainer.
3. Heat a large skillet on medium heat and add 1tbsp extra virgin olive oil, red chili flakes, dried oregano and garlic, stir frequently and cook until the garlic is fragrant, but not brown, about 2~3 minutes.
4. Next add the tomato liquid and simmer until the juice is reduced to a thick paste, 2~3 minutes.
5. Add the tomato pulp, olives and capers; cook until just heated through, about 2~3 minutes. Stir in chopped parsley.
6. Add the cooked pasta and toss to combine with the sauce. Add reserved cooking water as needed to adjust the consistency. Season with salt to taste. Serve immediately.

View the recipe instructions at Cook's Hideout