CARAMELIZED SHALLOT PASTA

Caramelized Shallot Pasta image

Categories Pasta Casserole/Gratin Dinner Fry Vegetarian

Number Of Ingredients 9

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Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
6 ears shallots (thinly sliced)
5 cloves garlic cloves (4 thinly sliced & 1 finely chopped)
1 pinch salt and pepper
1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1 can anchovy fillets (drained)
1 can tomato paste
10 ounces pasta
1 cup Italian parsley leaves (finely chopped)

Steps:

2. Add red-pepper flakes and anchovies. (No need to chop the anchovies; they will dissolve on their own.) Stir to melt the anchovies into the shallots, about 2 minutes.
3. Add tomato paste and season with s & p. Cook, stirring constantly to prevent any scorching, until the tomato paste has started to cook in the oil a bit, caramelizing at the edges and going from bright red to a deeper brick red color, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer about half of the mixture to a resealable container, leaving the rest behind. (These are your leftovers to be used elsewhere: in another batch of pasta or smeared onto roasted vegetables, spooned over fried eggs or spread underneath crispy chicken thighs.)
4. To serve, cook pasta until very al dente (more than usual). Transfer to Dutch oven with remaining shallot mixture (or a skillet if you are using the leftover portion) and 1 cup pasta water. Cook over medium-high heat, swirling the skillet to coat each piece of pasta, using a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up any bits on the bottom, until pasta is thick and sauce has reduced and is sticky, but not saucy, 3 to 5 minutes.
5. In a small bowl, combine parsley and finely chopped garlic clove, and season with flaky salt and papper. Divide pasta among bowls, or transfer to one large serving bowl, and top with parsley mixture and a bit more red-pepper flakes if you like.
1. Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add shallots and thinly sliced garlic, and season with s & p. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots have become totally softened and caramelized with golden-brown fried edges, 15 to 20 minutes.