Bucatini With Fresh Tomatoes
Instructions:
- 3/4 Pound Bucatini pasta or spaghetti
- 1/3 Cup Olive oil
- 2 Tablespoon Finely chopped shallots
- 1 Tablespoon Minced garlic
- 1/4 Pound Prosciutto ham; cut into very fine strips
- 1 Cup packed, spinach leaves, stemmed, washed and dried
- 1 Cup Dry white wine or chicken stock
- 3 Cup Peeled; seeded and chopped fresh tomatoes*
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 Cup; packed, fresh basil leaves, washed and cut into thin strips
- 1 Cup Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- TO MAKE THE PASTA:
- Bring 3 quarts of salted water to a boil, add the pasta and cook according to package directions.
- TO MAKE THE SAUCE:
- In a non−stick 12−inch wide skillet, over medium high heat, heat the olive oil. Add the shallots, garlic, prosciutto ham and spinach and cook, stirring, for about 15 seconds. Add the white wine or chicken stock and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes or until only half of the liquid remains. Add the fresh tomatoes and remove the skillet from the heat; add salt and pepper to taste.
- TO FINISH THE DISH AND SERVE:
- When the pasta is 2 to 3 minutes away from being cooked, return the skillet to the heat and stirring, bring the sauce back to a simmer. Cook for 1 minute and add the basil.
- Drain the pasta, return it to the cooking pot, add the sauce and toss until well combined.
- Serve immediately and garnish each portion with grated Parmesan cheese.
- * Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Drop the tomatoes into the water and boil for 30 seconds. Remove the tomatoes with a slotted spoon. With a knife remove the core, then cut each tomato in half, horizontally. Spoon out the seeds and squeeze out any juice. Finely chop the flesh.
- In a non−stick 12−inch wide skillet, over medium high heat, heat the olive oil. Add the shallots, garlic, prosciutto ham and spinach and cook, stirring, for about 15 seconds. Add the white wine or chicken stock and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes or until only half of the liquid remains. Add the fresh tomatoes and remove the skillet from the heat; add salt and pepper to taste.