Celebrity chef Mario Batali, master of the "less is more" technique, has taken the Italian restaurant scene by storm. Here, he offers two balanced and simple recipes: Spaghetti Siciliani, and Bucatini All'Amatriciana.
Serves four
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 small red onion, julienned
1 zucchini, cut into half moons
1 yellow squash, cut into half moons
1 garlic clove, sliced thin
1 fresh chili, sliced thin
1 cup basic tomato sauce (see tomato sauce recipe, below)
1 tablespoon toasted bread crumbs
1 tablespoon mint, torn
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Bottarga, to taste
Instructions:
Bring 6 quarts of water to boil and add 2 tablespoons of salt.
In a 12 to 14 inch sauté pan, heat the olive oil until smoking. Add the red onions and slightly caramelize until light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the zucchini, squash, garlic and chilies and cook until the squash is al dente, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in the boiling water according to package directions, until tender, yet al dente, and drain.
While the pasta cooks, in the same pan as the squash and zucchini mixture, heat the tomato sauce to a simmer.
Drain the pasta and add to the sauté pan, along with the bread crumbs and mint. Toss over medium heat to coat with the sauce, about 30 seconds. Divide among four heated bowls, sprinkle with black pepper and bottarga and serve immediately.
Recipe courtesy Mario Batali
Makes four cups
Ingredients:
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 Spanish onion, finely diced
4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme, or 1 tablespoon dried
½ medium carrot, finely shredded
2 28-ounce cans peeled whole tomatoes
Kosher salt, to taste
Instructions:
In a 3-quart saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft and light golden brown, 8-10 minutes.
Add the thyme and carrot and cook for 5 minutes more, or until the carrot is quite soft.
With your hands, crush the tomatoes and add them with their juices. Bring to a boil, stirring often, and then lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the sauce is as thick as hot cereal.
Season with salt and serve.
