Pasta Bellissimo!

 

This one is my “adaptation” of one of Nigella Lawson’s pasta/linguine recipes (she did a series called 'Nigellisima', it’s in one of the episodes).

I call it Pasta Bellissimo! Super simple and quick to make, uses all fresh ingredients (none of those "ready-made" pasta sauces in jars or anything) and is filling!

So let's get started!

Ingredients –

225gm Spanish chorizo sausage; cut in 0.5cm thick round slices

1-2 onion(s); finely chopped

2-3 vine tomatoes; finely chopped

1 green chilli; finely chopped (optional)

Handful of fresh basil; finely chopped

8-10 cloves of garlic; minced (or finely chopped)

2 tsp olive oil

3-4 tbsp fresh cream (optional)

130gm Spaghetti

Water (to cook the spaghetti in)

Salt; to taste

Freshly ground pepper; to taste

Serves – 3-4 people

Method –

1) Bring a pan of water to the boil; add in 1 tsp olive oil and add the spaghetti (the oil ensures that the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan).

2) Take another pan and add the remaining 1 tsp olive oil and heat well. Swirl the pan around so that the base is coated with this oil.

3) Add the chorizo slices and let them brown (the chorizo releases quite a bit of oil which we can use to fry the onions in).

 4) Once the chorizo slices brown all over, add in the chopped onion, chilli and minced garlic. Mix in well and let them fry/cook in the oil release from the chorizo.

Note – I added a chilli as I like spicy food, but the chorizo already has paprika for the heat; so chilli is optional.

5) Once the onions are cooked, add in the tomatoes and give it a good mix around. Place a lid on the pan so that the tomatoes cook and release some water.

6) Once the tomatoes have cooked, add in the salt and pepper. Mix well again. Place the lid back on.

7) The pasta should be cooked by now, so either drain it or, run the pan of pasta under cold water so that all the hot water overflows. Leave the pasta in cold water (this will stop it from sticking together also).

8) Now add cream to the “pasta sauce”. 

Note – Cream is also optional; I prefer adding it in as I don’t like the very sour taste of tomatoes. Mix well.

9) Add in half of the chopped basil and mix well.

10) Now drain the pasta and mix it into the sauce.

And there you go….it’s ready.

Serving suggestions –

Why not serve the spaghetti with fresh baguette slices, grilled/toasted and drizzled with olive oil, along with a green salad? You can mix a little olive oil with balsamic vinegar for a lovely salad dressing!

Or with some yummy garlic bread!

Tip – If you want a vegetarian option, just leave out the chorizo and add 2 tbsp of olive oil before you start frying the onions etc.

Comment below and let me know how you liked it! Also, would love to hear if you guys made some tweaks for a slightly different recipe :o)

Happy cooking!