Bucatini With Olive Caper Sauce Recipes

SICILIAN BUCATINI WITH SARDINES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente. Reserve 1 1/4 cups cooking water, then drain. Reserve the pot.
• Meanwhile, put the raisins in a small bowl and add hot tap water to just cover; set aside. Mix 2 teaspoons olive oil with the breadcrumbs and 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds; toast in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring, until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Wipe out the pasta pot and heat the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and fennel bulb and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fennel is tender and golden, about 8 minutes. Add the pine nuts, turmeric and remaining 1 teaspoon fennel seeds and cook, stirring, until the oil is golden and the nuts and spices are toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the raisins and soaking water and 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water; remove from the heat.
• Add the pasta, sardines and fennel fronds to the pot. Return to medium-high heat and cook, stirring, until coated, adding the remaining cooking water as needed to loosen. Season with salt and pepper. Divide among bowls, drizzle with olive oil and top with the toasted breadcrumbs.

BUCATINI WITH OLIVES, SUN-DRIED TOMATOES, AND BASIL

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat and add a generous amount of kosher salt. Stir in the bucatini, return the water to a boil, and cook the pasta, stirring occasionally to prevent the strands from sticking together, until it's al dente. (Since cooking times vary, for perfectly cooked pasta, refer to the package instructions for the recommended time and taste the pasta frequently while it cooks.)
• Put the tapenade in a large skillet.
• Drain the pasta and quickly add it, still dripping with water, to the skillet with the tapenade. Place the skillet over medium heat and cook the pasta, gently stirring to coat the pasta with the tapenade, until it's warmed through, about 1 minute.
• Turn off the heat, add the basil, parsley, and sun-dried tomatoes and toss to combine.
• Use tongs to lift the pasta out of the skillet and pile it onto four plates, dividing it evenly and twisting it into high mounds.
• Finish each serving with a drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, and Parmesan cheese shavings.

LEMONY BUCATINI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add three handfuls of kosher salt to the water. Taste the water, it should be as salty as the sea. Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Put the torn bread in a medium bowl. Drizzle with the olive oil, season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Spread on a baking sheet and broil until toasted, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pulse the broiled bread in a food processor until fine crumbs form. Set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Once the butter has melted, add the red pepper flakes and cook for 2 minutes.
• Drain the pasta and reserve 2 cups of the pasta water. Add the pasta to the skillet and toss to combine.
• Add a small handful of the Parmigiano-Reggiano, toss the pasta and then add a splash of the lemon juice. Alternate adding the remaining cheese and lemon juice until combined. Add some of the reserved pasta water, if needed.
• Add the lemon zest and toss to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if necessary.
• Transfer the pasta to a large bowl and top with the mint, parsley, thyme and breadcrumbs. Enjoy.