Well, since I am in Italy for this post, I find it most fitting to write about pasta. We have been eating numerous plates of pastas, from Sugo al Amatriciana to delightful Carbonaras, but some of the most delightful, and simplest, have been the Arrabiattas. Literally translated, the name means "angry sauce" and this is obviously derived from the liberal use of chiles in the sauce....it has a kick!!!! That being said, you can tone in down, or ramp it up to whatever spice level you like, and as I said, it is a very tasty, very easy, very affordable sauce to make. Enough rambling.....on to the food.
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| Peperoncini secchi pic |
1 medium onion, diced small
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 anchovy filets, chopped
6 peperoncini secchi picante, chopped fine (these are just those little, fiery hot dried chiles that are readily available)
2 cans whole peeled tomatoes
1 red bell pepper, diced small
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup Pecorino cheese
1 bunch Italian Parsley, chopped rough
2 tblsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
STEPS
1) Heat oil in pan over medium heat. Saute onions until soft and just starting to get some color on them, add peppers and garlic, and cook till softened
2)Add dried chiles and anchovy filets and cook one more minute, stirring constantly.
3)Deglaze pan with white wine, scrub up any bits of caramelized scrap off the pan up into the liquid
4)Add tomatoes, crush with potato masher, and reduce heat to simmer
6)Stir in half of you Pecorino cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper.
7)Toss whatever pasta you have cooked (this sauce is best with spaghetti, bucantini, or penne rigate) in the pan. Transfer to serving bowls, sprinkle with remaining parsley and pecorino. Serve....I would recommend having a nice glass of wine prepoured for this one because, as I said, she's got a kick!!!
WINE PAIRINGS
Since it is spicy, you could pair it with a Valpolicella, or a Barbera if you felt like a red. If your mood is leaning towards white, and since it isn't the heaviest of sauces, I would probably suggest an Orvieto.
"Life is too short, and I'm Italian. I'd much rather eat pasta and drink wine than be a size 0.
" ~Sofia Bush
"If you ate pasta and antipasto, would you still be hungry?" ~Author Unknown
