Linguini Alla Cecca Food

PASTA ALLA CHECCA

Steps:

• First, blanch your tomatoes. Bring a pot of water to the boil and put your tomatoes in, whole, for about a minute. You aren't trying to cook them, just get the skin loosened.
• Remove the water and set aside until they are cool enough to handle.
• Remove the skins, and then chop roughly and remove the seeds (whilst trying to keep as much of the juice as possible!)
• Put the chopped tomatoes in a bowl with the olive oil, chili flakes, basil and garlic.
• Set aside for a few hours, to let the flavors mingle.
• When it's time to serve, cook your linguine according to package instructions. Drain and return to the pan.
• Remove the garlic from the tomato sauce.
• Mix the tomato sauce in with the linguine. (Do not have any heat on the pan at this stage - the tomatoes will warm up a little just by contact with the linguine but we don't want the end result to be piping hot).
• Serve!

LINGUINI ALLA CECCA

Steps:

• Marinate tomatoes, oil garlic and basil together for 2 hours.
• Remove garlic.
• Add salt, pepper, and a little cayenne to taste.
• Toss with hot, drained linguini.
• (Marinate on countertop, so it will be at room temperature when serving on linguini).

SPAGHETTINI WITH CHECCA SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, stirring often, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the next 7 ingredients in a food processor. Pulse just until the tomatoes are coarsely chopped (do not puree).
• Drain the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water. Toss the pasta with the tomato mixture and fresh mozzarella in a large bowl. Add some of the reserved pasta water (about 1/4 cup) if the sauce looks dry. Serve immediately.

ALLA CHECCA

Steps:

• Combine tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olive oil in a non-metal bowl. Stir in salt. Cover with plastic wrap. Allow to sit at room temperature at least 2 hours, or as long as 10 hours.
• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain. Pour uncooked sauce over hot pasta, and toss. Add grated Parmesan cheese to your liking.

SPAGHETTI ALLA CHECCA

Steps:

• Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil.
• Add a tablespoon of salt and the pasta.
• Be sure all the strands are submerged.
• While that cooks combine tomatoes, mozzarella and herbs.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a saucepan until smoking hot.
• Pour over the tomato mixture.
• When pasta is done, drain and add to the tomato mixture.
• Toss until well coated.
• Cover bowl and let stand about 2 minutes so the cheese begins to melts.

PASTA à LA CHECCA

Steps:

• 1. Cook the pasta until al dente.
• 2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, squeeze the tomatoes to break them up (it's faster than chopping, and your kid will likely love joining in).
• 3. Add the garlic, oil, arugula (if using), salt, and pepper; set aside.
• 4. Drain the pasta (reserving 1/2 cup of the water) and toss it with the tomatoes. If the pasta is still a little dry, add some of the cooking water.
• 5. Let sit until the heat from the pasta has cooked the tomatoes and garlic slightly and wilted the arugula, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CHECCA

Steps:

• Mix tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and garlic together in a large non-reactive bowl; season with salt.
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let mixture sit at room temperature until the flavors meld, 2 to 10 hours.
• Stir Parmesan cheese into the tomato mixture just before serving.