PASTA THAT REMINDS ME OF MY CHILDHOOD

My favorite "warms-the-heart," comforting pasta dish is the one I grew up eating: spaghetti con burro e pomodori. My mom was a working mom so it was a dish she could throw together quickly. The beauty of this sauce, like so many good pasta sauces, is that in the time it takes to boil the pasta water and cook the pasta, it's done. The recipe is simple, but the key is to use the best ingredients you can get your hands on. Don't skimp on quality. Buon appetito!

Spaghetti con burro e pomodori (Spaghetti with butter and tomato sauce)

Put pasta water on to boil. Salt it generously. When water boils, add in 1 package of (thick) spaghetti. Cook about 1 minute less than package indicates for al dente pasta.

In the mean time, melt 1/2 cup of unsalted, best-quality butter in a saute pan ove medium heat.  When butter starts to foam, add 2 cloves of minced garlic.  Heat until butter smells garlicky and is completely melted then dump in a large can of imported San Marzano whole, peeled tomatoes. Smash tomatoes up with a wooden spoon.

Continue simmering until sauce is reduced by about a third, 20 minutes or so. Salt and pepper to taste. Toss with hot, cooked pasta. Pass the grated parmesan or pecorino romano cheese. (My family is Roman, so we prefer pecorino romano.) Serves 4 as a main dish or 6 as a starter.

[photo: Stefania Pomponi Butler]

also posted on slashfood

Comments

[Cory]

Made this delicious dish last night, and am enjoying left-overs at my desk for lunch. The smell alone of the garlic cooking in butter is well worth the effort of procuring the good ingredients.

[bernalgirl]

I don't even know you and you've inspired me again. I love your foodblog and that it coexists with your Mama blog, so much so that I copied you (and referenced you in the introductory post: http://pickyfingers.blogspot.com/2006/02/introducing-pickyfingers.html), so thought it only polite to let you know.

Happy mama-ing,
bernalgirl

[christine]

Just had this for dinner last night --- soooooo good and very easy! Any recipe that starts out with a stick of butter has to be good! Thanks Stefania!

[maggie]

Yum - had this tonight for dinner - easy, quick and delicious. Thanks!

[Lisa]

Must make this right away. Thanks!

[Lisa]

Made it! It was wonderful. I had fresh, farmers' market garlic and tomatoes -- SO good. I'm going to do a post about it soon and link to yours...

[SheilaBD/xiaolinmama]

made this last night - I am a hero at my house!!! Thanks so much.

[Sheryl]

Mmmm. I'm making this tonight. Using macaroni, because one of my children doesn't like "pasta" but will eat macaroni 8P

[Trish]

MMMmmmmm. My 2 year old and I enjoyed this for dinner. We actually found san marzano tomatoes for sale: .99 a can. I'm going back to stock up so I can make this fab recipe a couple of times a month.

[Briana]

I think I commented on this great dish after I made it last time... I made it again tonight and was very sad when I realized I had purchased the CRUSHED tomatoes instead of the whole ones. Despite my mistake, it turned out just as great! Yum Yum!