Rigatoni With Classic Caponata Food

RIGATONI WITH CABBAGE AND FONTINA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Canadian bacon and cook until the edges begin to crisp, about 2 minutes. Add the onion and cabbage, season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and toss to coat. Cook until the vegetables begin to brown and soften, about 3 minutes. Remove 1 cup cooking water from the pasta pot and add to the skillet; bring to a simmer and cook until the cabbage is just tender and the sauce is reduced by about half, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking water. Add the pasta and 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water to the skillet and increase the heat to high; toss to coat, adding more cooking water if the pasta is too dry (it should be very saucy). Stir in the parsley and remove from the heat. Sprinkle with the fontina and parmesan and toss.

CLASSIC CAPONATA

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add eggplant, onion, and garlic cloves. sauté until eggplant is soft and brown, about 15 minutes. Add diced tomatoes with juice, then red wine vinegar and drained capers. Cover and simmer until eggplant and onion are very tender, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes. Season caponata to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in fresh basil. Transfer caponata to serving bowl. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts. Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold. (Caponata can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.)

CAPONATA PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the onion for 8-10 mins until starting to caramelise (or for longer if you have time - the sweeter the better). Add the garlic for the final 2 mins of cooking time.
• Tip in the mixed veg, tomatoes, capers and raisins. Season well and simmer, uncovered, for 10 mins, or until you have a rich sauce.
• Meanwhile, boil the kettle. Pour the kettleful of water into a large pan with a little salt and bring back to the boil. Add the pasta and cook until tender with a little bite, then drain, reserving some of the pasta water. Tip the pasta into the sauce, adding a splash of pasta water if it needs loosening. Scatter with the basil leaves and parmesan, if you like, and serve straight from the pan

CLASSIC CAPONATA

Steps:

• Cut the eggplant into 3/4" cubes. Toss with 1 Tbsp. salt and mix together with your hands; place in a colander and let drain over a bowl for 30-40 minutes.
• Thinly slice the onion and brown in a pan with 1/4 cup oil over low heat, for around 10 minutes.
• Cut the tomatoes into wedges and remove the center section and seeds. Cut into strips. Slice the celery heart (the light, tender part in the center) and chop the leaves. Rinse the capers well under running water.
• Add the tomatoes and the celery to the pan with the onions and, after 5 minutes, add the olives, capers and pine nuts.
• Gently squeeze the eggplant, transfer to paper towels and dry well; heat extra-virgin olive oil (2" deep) in a shallow pan and fry the eggplant in small batches for 7-8 minutes or until golden. Remove with a skimmer and add to the pan with the onions.
• Cook for 2-3 minutes, then add torn basil leaves, vinegar, 1 Tbsp. sugar and, if necessary, a pinch of salt; increase the heat and let vinegar evaporate, then remove from heat and let cool for at least 2 hours before serving. Ideally, prepare a day in advance.

RIGATONI WITH EGGPLANT CAPONATA

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, rigatoni until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain pasta, and return to pot. Add eggplant caponata to pasta; toss, gradually adding enough reserved pasta water to mixture to coat pasta lightly. Serve garnished with Parmesan.

RIGATONI AL SEGRETO (RIGATONI WITH SECRET SAUCE)

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions, salt. Cook until no longer white and starting to turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic; cook about 1 minute. Add chili flakes and blended tomato sauce. Bring to a simmer; adjust heat to medium to medium-low. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for 45 to 60 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes (5 minutes from doneness).
• Add about 2/3 of the basil to the sauce. Stir in butter. When butter melts, add cheese in 3 increments.
• Drain pasta; transfer to sauce. Stir until rigatoni are evenly coated with sauce. Serve sprinkled with the remaining basil and a dusting of grated cheese.

RIGATONI ALLA SICILIANA

Steps:

• Trim eggplant and cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
• In a large skillet, cook eggplant and garlic in oil for 7 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in tomatoes and break up with a wooden spoon.
• Add oregano, salt and red pepper flakes.
• Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• While sauce is simmering, cook pasta following package directions.
• Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water.
• Toss drained pasta with sauce.
• Add reserved pasta water, in 1/4 cup increments, until desired consistency is reached.
• Stir in cheese, allow to melt slightly and serve.