Wednesday 20 January 2016

A light and easy, tasty supper. My version of 'Spaghetti Vongole'



What I love about this meal, is you can put the spaghetti on to boil first. Then you have approx 10 mins to prepare and cook the other ingredients and still have 2 mins to tidy up and set the table.
I think with busy lives, recipes like this are a game changer.
A home cooked, healthy meal ready in 15 mins. Win win!

I first made it after being inspired by Mediterranean food on my last holiday pre kids (way too long ago). It really is so super tasty, but very fresh and simple.

I originally had this dish with clams. But can use king prawns (as below) or crabmeat, cod, chorizo, chopped pancetta or even anchovies. Whatever you fancy. The flavours are simple and work well with whatever you choose.

Ingredients:

For 2 people:
Approx 200g of spaghetti or linguine
King Prawns approx 200g ready cooked or raw
A dozen cherry tomatoes (or use more if you prefer - or chopped fresh tomatoes)
Juice of approx 1/2 lemon
Olive Oil
1 garlic clove
1 red chilli chopped
1 large white onion chopped finely
Parsley
Salt and pepper
optional - a dash of white wine!

Method:

Add the spaghetti to a saucepan of boiling salted water.

Heat a large frying pan with a dash of olive oil - approx 2 tbsps.

Chop your onion, garlic and chilli

When sizzling hot add them to the pan to sizzle away. When softening nicely add cherry tomatoes and let sizzle away for approx 5 mins. Then finally add the prawns. King Prawns seem to cook so quickly, so if you like them to stay juicy, don't let them simmer for too long or they will shrivel up!

The spaghetti by this point is likely to be cooked. If not, give it a stir, then clear your work surfaces and set the table. Then come back to the spaghetti which should be perfectly al dente, drain it and add to the pan.

Squeeze the juice of a lemon onto the spaghetti and a dash of white wine, if you have some to hand. Season well and add a generous sprinkling of parsley.

Now using some kitchen tongs (or forks being careful of the non stick pan, or using a wooden one if you have it) mix everything together so all the onion/garlic/chilli/prawns/tomatoes are nicely dispersed in the spaghetti.

To serve add a final squeeze of lemon and extra sprinkling of parsley.

This really is unbelievably tasty and really on the table in minutes in less than 15 mins!