(1) It is a great representation of what we love to cook: simple recipes that utilize fresh ingredients and emphasize how each ingredient contributes to the whole; and
(2) The homemade basil-red-pepper-infused olive oil is a simple, cheap and GENIUS detail that really adds sophistication to the dish.
Please note!
This is an exercise of smells, tastes and textures; we don't have ingredient amounts, cooking times or temperatures. Instead, you'll have to rely on the scent of the olive oil infusion and the texture of the tomato pulp to tell you when it's time to combine them, and you'll have to your own taste preferences of basil, garlic and red pepper to determine the type of olive oil infusion you create.
All Ingredients
*Pasta of choice
*Fresh whole tomatoes, of your favorite variety (we use six or so, so that there will be leftovers for two people)
*Fresh basil
*Crushed red pepper flakes (to taste- depends on how spicy you like it)
*EVOO (a.k.a. Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
*Whole garlic cloves (however many you like)
*Butter (a "pat")
PHASE ONE:
Ingredients
*Fresh whole tomatoes:
- Blanche tomatoes in boiling water to release the skin
- When tomatoes show cracks in skin, remove & peel
- Cut tomatoes in half and remove seeds
- Place tomato halves in pot with salt & EVOO (not too much, since you'll be adding more olive oil in Phase Two)
- Let cook down until nice & pulpy
MEANWHILE, PHASE TWO:
Ingredients
*EVOO
*Fresh Basil
*Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
*Whole Garlic Cloves (we usually add two or three)
*Pasta
*Salt
Bring salted water to a boil & cook pasta per package directions.
Infuse basil, red pepper & EVOO as you would a tea:
- Add whole basil leaves, garlic and red pepper to EVOO in small pan
- Bring the EVOO mix to warm (bubbling slightly
- After a while (i.e. once the infusion starts to become aromatic), strain EVOO into tomatoes & stir to combine.
PHASE THREE:
Ingredients
*Pat of butter
*Fresh chopped basil
- Allow tomato pulp & infused EVOO to cook & combine
- Add pasta to pan
- Add a pat of butter to balance tomato acidity. As you combine & melt the butter into the dish, the sauce also develops a beautiful silky texture.
Plate pasta & garnish with fresh basil
Also: Try different olive oil infusions and report back to this post on what you discovered!