Perfecting Pasta
A spicy sauce to complement any noodle
(page 1 of 2)
I’m a huge fan of all things pasta. In fact, it’s my favorite go-to staple for quick weeknight—or any night—meals.
I do tend to prefer tomato-based dishes like Bolognese, with fresh basil and lasagna, but for me, spaghetti is the ultimate comfort food. Pair it with a nice crusty bread and butter and I’m in heaven!
One of my close friends in Indiana grew up in Trinidad and she takes an interestingly eclectic approach to seasoning food. Our families usually spend Thanksgivings together and every year, we count down the days to enjoying some of her signature dishes once again.
During one of our visits, she made a big batch of spaghetti that I embarrassed myself devouring—going back for “just one more” serving over and over again. After about the sixth, it was hands down the most flavorful spaghetti I had ever had. That is until I found this recipe!
As a collector of cookbooks, I couldn’t pass up a compilation of pasta sauces I once happened upon. All of the recipes sounded delicious and the pictures were amazing but the one recipe that stood out for me to try first was one that called for anchovies and capers. Something about the utilization of the anchovies was intriguing to me.
What happens is the anchovy fillets will dissolve in olive oil when heated thus rendering an intense salty essence to flavor the dish without being fishy. I had never tasted nor worked with anchovies before, but this I had to try! It was a symphony of different flavors and textures bursting in my mouth! Not at all the unpopular pizza topping I always heard about.
The recipe calls for black olives which I omit and typically avoid as a general rule—those I know I don’t like! Otherwise, I follow the basic recipe and it has been a huge hit time and again. It’s quick enough to whip up mid-week and special enough for company. I like to toss in a few sun-dried tomatoes for an irresistible chewy burst of flavor.
Experiment. Have fun. But, do indeed try this recipe. It just may change your life!
Bon Appetit!
Email
Print
