Spaghetti al Pomodoro with a Twist
Beautiful summer tomatoes and fresh basil are calling out for spaghetti. Spaghetti al pomodoro. But how can we make a refreshingly simple recipe of spaghetti with tomato sauce just a bit more interesting? How, just give it a twist! Turn the pasta into a “caterpillar.”
And for more interest, exchange the recipe’s predictable pinch of red chili flakes with Korean chili threads, shilgochu 실고추, finely-sliced dried chilis that are reddish brown in color with smoky red pepper and fruity flavors, and a medium degree of heat. They are cooked in butter for about a minute to soften then tossed with the spaghetti, adding a vibrant accent to the dish.
Here’s the Technique
Ratio – 1 large tomato : 1 T. olive oil : 1 garlic clove
Cut ripe tomatoes across the equator.
Squeeze out most of the seeds by hand.
Rub cut side across large holes of a box grater into a bowl.
Add olive oil to a hot pan. Add minced garlic.
Cook for one minute over medium heat.
Add grated tomato. Pinch of sugar. Salt to taste. A few basil leaves.
Cook for 5 minutes. Stirring occasionally until slightly thickened.
If using different colored heirloom tomatoes, cook each color separately.
How To Twist Spaghetti into a “Caterpillar”
Cook spaghetti in salted water to al dente. Drain well. Dry out the pot and add butter. Melt butter then add chili threads. Cook for about 1 minute without browning the butter. Add spaghetti back to the pot and toss with the butter/chili threads.
Insert a carving fork through a large clump of spaghetti. Lift the fork over the pot and twirl horizontally several times so that loose strands fall back to the pot and the spaghetti becomes tightly wound around the fork. Use a scissors to cut off any long strands. Slide the “caterpillar” onto the plate.
How to Serve
Top the spaghetti with tomato sauce. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with grated Parmesan. Garnish with basil leaves.
Stir It Up
Food Network featuring Tomatoes
#SummerSoiree is a season long franchise where Food Network editors team up with bloggers to share recipes about everyone’s favorite SUMMERTIME ingredients. This week, it’s TOMATOES.
Get inspiration from our very popular Pinterest Board with over 500,000 followers called Let’s Pull Up A Chair here. And if you’re looking for some creative TOMATO recipes, please visit my friends below.
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Love the plating! I do like the idea of making a different sauce using different heirloom of tomatoes as these will give an enticing color combination to the food.