Pasta Peperonata Recipes

PEPERONATA

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large pot. Add onions and garlic; cook and stir until soft and lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
• Stir potatoes, tomatoes, red bell peppers, yellow bell peppers, water, tomato paste, capers, and basil into the pot. Cook until potatoes and peppers are soft, adding more water if needed, about 45 minutes. Season with pepper.

PASTA PEPERONATA WITH TUNA AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Heat a large straight-sided skillet or shallow pot over medium. Swirl in oil. Add onion, mild peppers, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables have collapsed and are tender, 18 to 20 minutes. Add garlic, tomatoes, raisins, olives, and basil sprig. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes have collapsed and release their juices, and sauce thickens to a stew-like consistency, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove and discard basil.
• Meanwhile, cook spaghetti in a large pot of generously salted boiling water until al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain. Transfer spaghetti and 1/2 cup pasta water to skillet with sauce and continue cooking, tossing a few times, until sauce thickens slightly and clings evenly to pasta, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Add tuna, half of cheese, and finger pepper, tossing until evenly combined. Add more pasta water, a little at a time, until sauce evenly coats pasta again. Stir in basil leaves and serve, topped with remaining cheese and a drizzle of oil.

PEPERONATA

Steps:

• Peter's Garlic Oil, add olive oil to a butter melting pot. Remove rough end of garlic cloves and slice each in half lengthwise. Do not remove skin. Place them in the pot with oil. Add Tuscany seasoning and red pepper flakes.
• Place on medium heat until the olive oil begins to lightly sizzle. Reduce heat, maintaining a low simmer. It will take several hours before garlic richly tans and becomes soft and sweet. You can hasten the process with slightly higher heat but be careful not to burn the garlic. Remove garlic skins when released.
• Fully char peppers on all sides. Start by placing peppers on grill grate top side down followed by bottoms then grill sides. Be careful not to pierce peppers so all of their wonderful juices are retained. Place in a tray with sides for additional protection while cooling.
• Peel and cut onion in ¼ inch slices. Brush with garlic oil and char both sides on the grill.
• When peppers have cooled, remove charred skin over a large bowl to capture juices released. Break peppers in half by hand. Remove core and seeds. Don't be concerned when some fall into the liquid. Cut peppers in ½ inch strips lengthwise.
• Over medium heat with the oil from Pete's garlic oil, finishing cooking onions by sauteing them in a large pot until translucent. Add tomatoes, a few grinds of black pepper, the remaining pinch of red pepper flakes, vinegar, basil and juices from the pepper. When mixture begins to boil, lower heat and cover, maintaining a simmer. In about 15 minutes remove cover and stir in peppers and the pot roasted garlic cloves. Stir occasionally until much of the liquid is condensed. Salt to taste. Cool to room temperature. You can refrigerate, even overnight until ready to eat. Serve at room temperature, warm or hot.