Burnt Pasta Recipes

PASTA WITH 15-MINUTE BURST CHERRY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente; drain and transfer to a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a 12" skillet or wide heavy saucepan over medium-high. Add garlic, then tomatoes, pepper, sugar, and 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes burst and release their juices to form a sauce, 6-8 minutes.
• Toss pasta with tomato sauce and basil. Top with Parmesan.

PASTA WITH BROWN BUTTER AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water (2 heaping tablespoons kosher salt to about 7 quarts water) to a boil. Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta, but don't shake it fully dry.
• In a skillet or Dutch oven large enough to hold the pasta (and preferably with a light-colored bottom so you can see the butter solids brown), melt the butter over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the foam subsides, the milk solids turn golden-brown and it smells nutty and toasty, 3 to 4 minutes. (Watch carefully to see that it does not burn. If it does, start over.) Remove from heat immediately.
• Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss with the brown butter. Stir in the cheese until melted. Stir in pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the pasta is glossy with sauce (you probably won't need the full 1/2 cup).
• Serve with black pepper and more Parmesan on top.

BURNT PASTA

Steps:

• Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat. Melt the butter in the pan until it begins to get frothy, about 2 minutes, and then add the crushed bouillon cubes and mix together until the butter is browned slightly. Add the dry pasta and toss to coat until crisp and brown, about 3 minutes. Add the diced onion and toss, about 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add just enough water (about 2 cups) to cover the pasta in the pan. Place the pan back over low heat and cover. Cook until the water is absorbed, 2 to 3 minutes.

PASTA WITH BURST CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until 1 minute shy of al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking water.
• Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat for 15 seconds, then add the oil and heat until it thins out and easily coats the pan when swirled. Add pancetta and cook until it starts to render its fat, about 2 minutes. Add garlic, red pepper flakes and a large pinch of salt and pepper and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook until they burst, turn golden at the edges and shrivel up slightly, about 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add pasta to pan and toss with tomato-pancetta mixture; if the mixture looks dry add a little pasta cooking water a few tablespoons at a time. Cook over high heat until the pasta finishes cooking in the sauce. Add the butter and toss until it melts and coats everything.
• Divide pasta among warmed pasta bowls. Garnish with dollops of ricotta if desired, and top with a generous mound of fresh mint and scallions. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and more pepper before serving.

TAGLIATELLE WITH PROSCIUTTO AND BUTTER

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat.
• In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat until frothy and golden, about 1 minute. Add half the prosciutto in one flat layer. Cook until crisp, 1 to 2 minutes, then transfer cooked prosciutto to a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining prosciutto, leaving it in the skillet, and remove skillet from heat.
• Season the boiling water lightly with salt. When the salt dissolves, add the tagliatelle and cook until toothsome and slightly undercooked, 2 to 4 minutes or according to package instructions.
• Just before your pasta is ready, return the skillet to the heat and warm over medium. Do not drain the pasta, but use a slotted pasta fork or tongs and transfer the cooked pasta directly to the skillet. Working quickly, add 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano and about 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water and swirl vigorously to emulsify, jostling the pan at the same time, and cook just until sauce is silky, about 1 minute.
• Divide the pasta among shallow bowls, sprinkle with pepper and remaining prosciutto and serve immediately, along with more Parmigiano-Reggiano if desired.

PASTA AND BURNT BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with plenty of cold water, about 3/4 capacity and bring to a boil over high heat. When at a boil, add in the pasta, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 to 2 teaspoons oil. Stir pasta continuously until the water returns to a boil. Boil pasta according to packaging, or your preference, stirring occasionally.
• Drain pasta well in colander. Wipe the pot dry with a paper towel and then add in the butter. Melt the butter over high heat until frothy, and until its color has turned to an amber golden brown color, but not dark brown or black.
• Remove the pot from the heat and add in the drained pasta, and then quickly toss it well, as to prevent the pasta from sticking to the pot, coating pasta evenly with butter. Sprinkle in the garlic powder, crushed basil, oregano and grated cheese of choice. Add salt and pepper according to taste and toss well again.
• Transfer to serving bowl and sprinkle with finely chopped parsley (optional) and serve.