Pasta With Tuna Anchovies Pine Nuts And Currants Recipes

PASTA WITH TUNA, CAPERS AND SCALLIONS

Steps:

• In a well-salted pot of boiling water, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, saving 1 cup pasta water.
• In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium. Add garlic and scallion whites, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add anchovies and capers and cook until anchovies melt and capers and garlic turn golden, 2 to 3 minutes longer. Add 1/2 cup pasta water, let it reduce until there is just a little left in the pan, then add pasta and herbs and toss well to coat. Add tuna and toss well.
• Serve with red-pepper flakes on top, more herbs, scallion greens, and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing.

SPAGHETTI WITH FENNEL, ANCHOVIES, CURRANTS, PINE NUTS & CAPERS

Steps:

• Quarter the fennel bulbs. Remove the coarse outer leaves and trim the tips (cut off and reserve any fronds). Remove and discard the core from each quarter, then chop the rest of the fennel.
• Cook the spaghetti in a pan of boiling, lightly salted water. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan. Sauté the fennel until soft, then add the garlic and cook gently until pale gold. Add the anchovies, press with a wooden spoon, then add the chilli. When the anchovies fall apart, toss in the currants, capers, parsley and most of the pine nuts.
• Drain the pasta and immediately add it to the frying pan. Add the lemon juice and season to taste. Toss together, then serve straight from the pan or transfer to a large warm serving bowl. Scatter over the remaining pine nuts and any fennel fronds.

PASTA WITH TUNA, ANCHOVIES, PINE NUTS AND CURRANTS

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet saute the garlic and onion in the olive oil over medium heat until they are pale golden, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the garlic. Add the mashed anchovies and, stirring with a wooden spoon, let them melt over the heat, dissolving in the oil. Stir in the tomatoes, pine nuts, currants, salt and pepper and cook over medium heat for 7 to 10 minutes. Set this mixture aside.
• Bring the water to a boil in a large pot, add the sea salt and cook the pappardelle until it is al dente. Reserve some cooking water in case you need it to thin the sauce.
• Flake the tuna with a fork, add it to the anchovy-tomato sauce and mix it in well. Toss the pasta with most of the sauce, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil if needed and pour the remainder of the sauce over the top. Serve immediately sprinkled with the parsley and toasted bread crumbs.

PASTA WITH TUNA, ANCHOVIES AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Open the cans of tuna and anchovies, reserving the oils for cooking. Roughly flake the tuna and chop the anchovies.
• Place pinenuts on non-stick foil and grill until brown (this won't take long, so it's best to stay right next to the grill as they can burn quickly).
• Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Add salt and oil (if this is how you like to cook pasta - some people omit one or both of them). As soon you have added the pasta to the pan, start making the sauce:.
• Fry the chopped onion in the tuna and anchovy oils (using as much or as little as your personal preference) until transparent, adding the crushed garlic for about the last minute.
• Add the tomatoes, tomato puree, and orange juice (if using) and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir through the tuna, chopped anchovies and orange zest, and cook for a further 2 - 3 minutes to warm through then season to taste, with the pepper.
• Drain the pasta and toss together with the sauce. If using parsley, either toss through the pasta, or use as a garnish.
• As an addendum: not essential, but I find it handy spending a few seconds in checking the pasta packet for cooking time and liquid measure. Then, bearing in mind that once the pasta has been added to the water, it will take a few minutes to return to a rolling boil again)I calculate the timings. The idea being that the sauce and pasta are both ready at the same time. Sometimes I start the sauce first, other times the pasta. But it's a pretty fool-proof recipe though, and if you're unsure, you can always start the sauce first and keep it warm until required - it won't spoil.

SICILIAN PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Place the raisins or currants in a small bowl and cover with warm water. In another bowl combine the saffron with 3 tablespoons warm water. Let both sit for 20 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt generously. Add the cauliflower and boil gently until the florets are tender but the middle resists when poked with a skewer or knife, about 10 minutes. Using slotted spoons or tongs (or a pasta insert) remove the cauliflower from the water, transfer to a bowl of cold water and drain. Cover the pot and turn off the heat. You will cook the pasta in the cauliflower water. Cut the florets from the core of the cauliflower and cut them into small florets or crumble coarsely using a fork or your hands.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the garlic. Cook, stirring, until it smells fragrant, about 30 seconds to a minute, and add the anchovies and tomatoes. Turn the heat down to medium-low and cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down and smell fragrant, about 10 minutes. Drain the raisins or currants and add, along with the saffron and its soaking liquid, cauliflower, pine nuts or almonds, and about 1/4 cup of the cooking water from the cauliflower. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover, turn the heat to low and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep warm while you cook the pasta.
• Bring the cauliflower water back to a boil and cook the pasta al dente, following the timing instructions on the package. Check the sauce and if it seems dry add another 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and transfer to the pan with the sauce. Toss together and serve, sprinkled with pecorino and chopped basil leaves. If desired, drizzle a little olive oil over each serving.