One of the most spectacular ways to serve pasta is al cartoccio—boiled, sauced, then wrapped in parchment paper (or aluminum foil) and baked. This might sound like an odd preparation method, but your guests will greet the arrival of the packets at the table with mounting anticipation that will turn to joy as they open them.
This traditional Italian recipe calls for a variety of shellfish, many of which are strictly Mediterranean and difficult to find outside of that area. This updated version omits the more obscure shellfish. If the shells of the shellfish (clams, etc.) are pretty, scrub them very well before you begin making the sauce, and don't shuck them after they have opened: Put them—shells and all—in the cartoccio and they'll add a special touch to the finished dish.
[Edited by Danette St. Onge]
Ingredients
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1/4 cup olive oil
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1 clove garlic, crushed
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1/2 fresh red chile pepper, seeded, thinly sliced
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20 small squid, or calamari, optional
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20 clams
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16 mussels
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16 prawns, or large shrimp
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3 moderately ripe tomatoes, blanched, peeled, seeded, finely chopped
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5 fresh basil leaves
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2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
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3/4 pound dried spaghetti
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Fine sea salt, to taste
Steps to Make It
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Wash all the shellfish very well. Set a pot with 3 quarts of lightly salted water to boil over high heat.
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In the meantime, pour the olive oil into a large skillet and add the garlic, the chile pepper, and the seafood. Cook over a low flame for 5 minutes, then add the chopped tomatoes, basil, and parsley. Simmer for 15 minutes.
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Preheat your oven to 450 F (250 C).
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Keep an eye on the pasta pot as the sauce simmers, and when the water boils add the pasta. Let it cook until half done (usually about 4 minutes), then drain it well in a colander and transfer it while it is still dripping to the skillet with the sauce.
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Toss the pasta-and-sauce mixture by moving the skillet as you would if you were flipping an omelet. Roll out a long sheet of aluminum foil or parchment paper and fold up the sides to make a box-like container.
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Transfer the pasta to the container, fold the aluminum foil or paper over it, and crimp the edges together to make a sealed pouch (you can also make individual pouches for your guests if you wish).
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Bake in the oven for 5 minutes, at which point the pouch will have puffed up. Slide it onto a serving dish and open it at the table.
Recipe Variation
Instead of large tomatoes, use 10 to 15 cherry tomatoes cut in half.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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888 | Calories |
28g | Fat |
57g | Carbs |
97g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 4 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 888 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 28g | 36% |
Saturated Fat 4g | 22% |
Cholesterol 257mg | 86% |
Sodium 2615mg | 114% |
Total Carbohydrate 57g | 21% |
Dietary Fiber 3g | 12% |
Total Sugars 6g | |
Protein 97g | |
Vitamin C 97mg | 483% |
Calcium 234mg | 18% |
Iron 21mg | 118% |
Potassium 1884mg | 40% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |