Mamacello Pasta

I have made this dish a couple of times and found in my old files on my computer.  I don't think I posted it because I felt that it didn't photograph well.  I decided that the recipe is definitely blog worthy even if the photo isn't.  Rachael Ray makes this with spaghetti or linguine but Steve and I are very big fans of rigatoni and I make it all the time.  What's your favorite type of pasta?

From Every Day with Rachael Ray

June-July 2006

4 SERVINGS

Ingredients:

1 pound spaghetti or linguine

Salt

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), 3 turns of the pan

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 pinches of crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 cup dry white wine (a couple of glugs)

Zest of 2 lemons, 1 lemon juiced

1/2 cup heavy cream (eyeball it)

Handful of flat-leaf parsley, chopped

1 cup fresh basil (20 leaves), shredded

Freshly grated Parmigiano- Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese, for topping the pasta and passing around the table

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and salt the water liberally. Cook the pasta until al dente, 6 to 7 minutes.

2. While the pasta cooks, heat a deep skillet over low heat and add the EVOO, 3 turns of the pan. When the olive oil is warm, add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Turn off the heat and set the garlic aside for 5 minutes, then raise the heat to medium, add the wine and lemon zest and boil to reduce the wine by half, about 3 minutes.

3. When the pasta is just about cooked, add a ladle of starchy pasta cooking water to the skillet with the sauce and stir in the heavy cream. When the cream is warmed through, whisk the lemon juice into the sauce and season with salt. Drain the pasta and toss with the sauce, then let the pasta stand for 1 minute so it can soak up a little of the sauce and lots of flavor. Toss with the parsley, basil and a couple handfuls of grated cheese, then serve immediately. Pass around the extra cheese at the table.

 Click here for a printable version of this recipe.