Mezzi Rigatoni With Yellow Tomato Sauce Recipes

YELLOW TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and salt the water generously. Prepare an ice bath for the tomatoes by filling a medium bowl with cold water and some ice cubes. Use a slotted spoon to plunge the tomatoes into the boiling water for about 1 to 2 minutes. The skin should show evidence of peeling away from the flesh of the tomatoes. Remove them from the water and plunge them into the ice bath. Allow the tomatoes to sit in the cool water so they stop cooking.
• In a medium skillet, heat a tablespoon of the olive oil and add the garlic, shallots, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the oregano and sugar. Stir to blend. Allow to cook, over low heat, until the shallots and garlic become tender and translucent.
• Meanwhile, remove the tomatoes from the ice bath, peel off and discard the skin from each. Place them on a flat surface, quarter them and scoop out the seeds and "jelly" from each piece. Gather all the seeds in a strainer and push through the liquid that naturally surrounds the seeds. Discard the seeds. Reserve the liquid and tomato flesh.
• Add the tomato and liquid to the shallot mixture and stir in about 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 teaspoon ground pepper. Turn the heat down to medium and cook until the tomato flesh starts to lose shape, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the water and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. If there are still some hard pieces, add a little more water and cook for a few more minutes. Taste for seasoning.
• In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Add a generous amount of salt. The pasta water should taste like sea water. Add the pasta to the pot and stir so none of the pieces stick to the bottom as they cook. Cook the pasta until "al dente", chewy but not hard or raw tasting, 8 to 10 minutes, and drain the pasta in a colander until the sauce is finished. Reserve a little of the pasta cooking liquid in case you need it later.
• Put the tomato sauce in the blender and puree until smooth. Slowly add the vinegar through the top of the blender as the sauce is blending. Next, pour the remaining olive oil through the top in a slow, steady stream. Blend in another cup of water then remove the sauce from the blender and taste for seasoning.
• Pour most of the sauce into a large skillet and add the pasta. Toss to blend with a wooden spoon. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the pasta liquid to thin it out. Taste for seasoning. Add the basil leaves and sprinkle with cheese, if desired.

MEZZI RIGATONI WITH YELLOW TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and garlic in a large wide pot or large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, swirling the garlic in the oil, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cherry tomatoes and season with a big pinch of salt and the red pepper flakes. Cook, mashing the tomatoes with a wooden spoon or potato masher, until softened and saucy, about 3 minutes. (If the pot seems dry, reduce the heat to medium and add a few tablespoons of the pasta cooking water.) Remove from the heat.
• Add the basil, pasta and 1/4 cup of the reserved cooking water to the tomato sauce. Stir well and toss to coat, gradually adding the remaining cooking water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed. Season with salt. Divide the pasta among bowls; top with cheese.

MEZZI RIGATONI WITH TOMATOES, SCALLOPS AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large wide pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the red pepper flakes, then add the tomatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a steady simmer and cook until thickened, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook as the label directs for al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain.
• During the last 4 minutes of cooking the pasta, add the wine and scallops to the tomato sauce, stirring to evenly distribute the scallops in the sauce. Simmer until just cooked through, about 4 minutes.
• Add the pasta and 1/2 cup cooking water to the scallops. Cook, stirring, until the pasta is well coated, 1 to 2 minutes. Add some of the remaining cooking water, a few tablespoons at a time, if the pasta is dry; season with salt. Stir in 3 cups arugula to wilt slightly.
• Divide the pasta among shallow bowls. Top with the remaining 1 cup arugula and drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Finely grate the lemon zest over the pasta and top with more red pepper flakes.

RIGATONI WITH NO-COOK TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Drain the pasta and set aside.
• Meanwhile, grate the beefsteak tomatoes into a large bowl, discarding any remaining skin. Whisk in the olive oil, garlic and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the heirloom tomatoes, basil and the pasta; toss to combine.