Tag Archives: capellini

Capellini with Smoked Paprika and Olives

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We certainly had doubts when looking at the recipe and the amount of liquid. The juices from the large can of tomatoes plus 4 cups of water? The pound of angel hair pasta was supposed to absorb all of that? Well the recipe from Malcolm Jackson for Milk Street got many 5-star reviews so we went with it. Lo and behold, it was perfect.

This one-pan approach allows the noodles to absorb flavor as well as moisture as they cook. So stir often and taste the noodle for doneness. Keep in mind, the pasta will take 3 to 4 times longer to cook in the sauce than the package directions indicate.

For starters, you’ll need a pan that is at least 12”’ wide, preferably larger. If however, you don’t own a pot wide enough, you could break the dry pasta in half to fit flat into your pan.

This garlicky one-pot pasta takes inspiration from Catalan fideuà, a paella-like dish made with short, thin noodles. Smoked paprika adds earthy heat, while sherry contributes sweet, fruity notes—both balanced by the briny olives. As mentioned, the capellini is cooked directly in the tomato-based sauce, thickening it and imbuing the pasta with flavor while eliminating the need to boil water. This is a delicious weeknight dinner as is, but also pairs wonderfully with grilled shrimp or pan-roasted white fish. We paired ours with a side salad.

TIP: Make sure to stir the pasta often. The limited amount of water, as it evaporates, makes it easier for the pasta to stick to the bottom.

Capellini with Smoked Paprika and Olives

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: easy
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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to serve
  • 3 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1 Tbsp. smoked paprika
  • 1/2 cup dry sherry OR dry white wine
  • 1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper
  • 4 cups of water
  • 1 lb. capellini
  • 1 cup pitted green OR black olives OR a combination, chopped
  • Roughly chopped fresh oregano OR finely grated manchego cheese OR both

Directions

  1. In a large pot over medium, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the garlic and paprika; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the sherry and cook until reduced by about half, 2 to 3 minutes.
  2. Stir in the tomatoes with juices and 1 teaspoon salt; bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Add 4 cups water and the pasta; stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium and cook, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente. (Which will be a lot longer than the package directions indicate.)
  3. Off heat, stir in the olives. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve drizzled with additional oil, and add toppings if desired.

http://www.lynnandruss.com

Recipe by Malcom Jackson for Milk Street

Toasted Noodles with Shrimp

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Also known as Rossejat de Fideus, this Toasted Noodles with Shrimp dish is similar to paella, but instead of rice, uses slender noodles that have been toasted until richly browned. Here capellini pasta (aka angel hair) is used. Break it by hand into rough 1-inch pieces (do this over a bowl to keep the pieces contained).

Toasting brings out the nutty-wheaty notes of the pasta, which then is simmered in broth instead of water. You will need a broiler-safe 12-inch skillet for this recipe, as the noodles are first cooked on the stovetop, then browned under the broiler. This dish is traditionally served with aioli, a garlicky mayonnaise. The recipe below makes a quick, extra-lemony version using store-bought mayonnaise. We decided to use up an open jar of Stonewall brand garlic aioli.

Don’t use regular paprika. Smoked paprika gives this dish a very Spanish flavor profile. Before broiling the noodles, make sure most of the liquid has been absorbed; too much moisture in the pan will prevent the surface from crisping and browning. Don’t forget that the skillet handle will be hot after broiling; use a potholder or oven mitt.

Typically, we would incorporate our homemade chicken stock, but we were completely out, so we used a boxed brand. Then it hit us halfway through making the dish, we should have used our homemade seafood stock!!

Toasted Noodles with Shrimp

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
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Ingredients

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp. grated lemon zest, plus 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 3 garlic cloves, 1 finely grated, plus 2 thinly sliced
  • 1 lb. extra-large (21/25 per lb.) shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 2 tsp. smoked sweet paprika, divided
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper
  • 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 6 oz. capellini pasta, broken into rough 1-inch pieces (see note)
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 plum tomato, cored and chopped
  • 2 cups chicken broth or seafood stock, preferably homemade
  • 1 pinch saffron threads
  • ¼ cup lightly packed fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, lemon zest and juice and the grated garlic. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. (Or use a store-bought brand.)
  2. Heat the broiler with a rack about 6 inches from the heat. In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with 1 teaspoon paprika, ¾ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper; set aside.
  3. In a broiler-safe 12-inch skillet over medium, heat 1 tablespoon of oil until shimmering. Add the pasta and cook, stirring frequently, until deep golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl and set aside; wipe out the skillet with paper towels.
  4. Return the skillet to medium-high, heat 1 tablespoon of the remaining oil until barely smoking. Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook without stirring until deep golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip the shrimp and continue to cook until opaque, another 20 to 30 seconds. Transfer to a plate, tent with foil and set aside.
  5. In the same skillet over medium, combine the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, the onion, the remaining 1 teaspoon paprika and ½ teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato and the sliced garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  6. Stir in the toasted pasta, the broth and the saffron. Bring to a boil over medium-high, then reduce to medium and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until almost all of the liquid has been absorbed, 3 to 5 minutes.
  7. Place the skillet under the broiler and cook until the surface is crisp and the tips of the noodles begin to brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
  8. Remove from the broiler, then top with the shrimp and drizzle with the accumulated juices. Spoon on some of the mayonnaise and sprinkle with the parsley; serve the remaining mayonnaise mixture on the side.

http://www.lynnandruss.com

Adapted from a recipe for Milk Street