Recipe: red wine spaghetti

In our ongoing search for bright spots in the kitchen during the coronavirus era, it will surprise no one that dishes combining pasta (!) with booze (!) score highly; for example, this gorgeous red wine spaghetti. You know the unshakeable formula by now, right? Do you like red wine? Do you like [fill in the blank]? Then you’re in for a treat!

The kitchen heroes at Bon Appétit, in turn, made this based on a recipe from restaurant Elena in Montreal, and it was showered with compliments: ‘A showstopper; screamingly easy’ and ‘my kids loved it!!’ (They were probably French). Tip: use wine you would also drink, but it can definitely be a bottle that doesn’t hurt your wallet. For example, one of the budget options from our top sommeliers!

How to make red wine spaghetti

• Mix the garlic with half of the olive oil in a small bowl.
• Heat a heavy-bottomed pan over medium-low heat and pour in the garlic oil.
• Add the chili flakes and a quarter of the butter and cook for about 3 minutes, until the garlic is very fragrant but not yet browned.
• Pour the wine into the pan, turn the heat up slightly, and bring to a boil.
• Cook uncovered for about 20–25 minutes, until approximately 2/3 of the mixture remains, and season with salt.
• Cover and keep warm over low heat or on a warming plate.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta very al dente, stopping about three minutes before the recommended cooking time.
• Drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the sauce, along with the remaining butter.
• Turn the heat back up to medium until the sauce is simmering, and toss vigorously using, for example, a wooden fork from your salad servers, or a good-quality silicone tongs.
• Stir and toss for about three minutes, until all the spaghetti is well coated and the sauce has thickened further.
• Taste to see whether it needs more salt, and serve immediately in deep plates with a drizzle of olive oil and plenty of grated Parmesan.

Source and image: Bon Appétit

Read also

• Spilled a glass of red wine? Here’s how to fix it!
• Wines everyone likes, according to top sommeliers
• Recipe: spaghetti alle vongole