I find there is no better dish to eat in the summer evenings than pasta. Al fresco, with the late sunshine and a glass of red or white wine, I struggle to think of a better combination with which to while away those elongated evenings.
‘Pappare’ means ‘to gobble up’, in Italian, which is the destiny of this dish. I like it spicy, but the quantity of harissa can easily be reduced. Make the sauce three days ahead if you like and keep in the fridge until needed.
Pappardelle With Rose Harissa, Black Olives And Capers
Print RecipeIngredients
- 2 tbsp of olive oil
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced (220g)
- 3 tbsp Rose Harissa
- 400g cherry tomatoes, halved
- 55g pitted Kalamata olives, torn in half
- 20g baby capers
- 500g dried pappardelle pasta (or another wide, flat pasta)
- 15g parsley, roughly chopped
- 120g Greek-style yoghurt
- Salt
Instructions
Step One
Put the oil into a large sauté pan, for which you have a lid, and place on a medium high heat. Once hot, add the onion and fry for 8 minutes, stirring every once in a while, until soft and caramelised.
Step Two
Add the Rose Harissa, tomatoes, olives, capers and ½ teaspoon of salt and continue to fry for 3–4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the tomatoes start to break down. Add 200ml of water and stir through.
Step Three
Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium low, cover the pan and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the lid of the sauce and continue to cook for 4–5 minutes, until the sauce is thick and rich. Stir in 10g of the parsley and set aside.
Step Four
Meanwhile, fill a large pot with plenty of salted water and place on a high heat. Once boiling, add the pappardelle and cook according to the packet instructions, until al dente. Drain well.
Step Five
Return the pasta to the pot along with the harissa sauce and 1/8 teaspoon of salt. Mix together well, then divide between four shallow bowls. Serve hot, with a spoonful of yoghurt and a final sprinkle of parsley.
