Food & Drinks

Simple fettuccine from Ottolenghi

Make pasta like a top chef, but with a medium-light ingredient list. Want to? We do. Everything in the pan, simmer for an hour and done. Are you going to impress that beloved mother-in-law, friends, and colleagues?.

Ottolenghi is known for complicated recipes with an extensive ingredient list. Good news if you've never dared to open one of his books because of that: in his latest book ‘Simple’, there are only recipes that anyone can make. This spicy tomato sauce takes a while, but is absolutely not difficult and incredibly delicious.

Buy a good amount of cherry tomatoes when they are ripe and sweet to make a double or triple batch of sauce. It does take some time – just over an hour – but you can keep it in the fridge for five days and in the freezer for one month. The ancho pepper gives a wonderfully rich and smoky flavor, but you can replace it with ¼ teaspoon of mild smoked paprika if you have that in stock instead of the ancho. If you don't want any heat, you can also leave out the chili pepper.

Preparation

  1. Pour 75 ml of olive oil into a large sauté pan and set it over medium-high to high heat. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and sauté, stirring regularly, for 1 minute until it starts to caramelize. Add the tomatoes – carefully, so the oil doesn't splatter – along with the sugar, chili pepper, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Pour in 200 ml of water and continue stirring for 4 minutes until the tomatoes break down and the liquid is gently bubbling. Turn the heat down to medium-low and let the sauce simmer gently for one hour. Stir occasionally until the tomatoes and ancho pepper break down and it becomes a thick sauce. Stir the basil into the sauce and keep the sauce warm.
  2. Fill a large pot with plenty of water and set it over high heat. Bring it to a boil and add the pasta. Cook the pasta for 10-12 minutes or according to the instructions on the package, until al dente. Drain the pasta and stir it into the sauce. Divide the dish among deep plates, sprinkle with parmesan, and serve.

Text: FavorFlav