Pot of gold: Alice Zaslavsky’s recipe for one-pan angel hair pasta with tomatoes and burrata | Australian food and drinks

One-pan pasta recipes could be a little hit or miss. Whereas one pan implies you gained’t must boil the pasta individually – which means one much less merchandise to scrub up – some folks discover the pasta tends to overcook or undercook. Others are delay by the starchiness, however I like to think about this dish as a risotto-paella-pasta scenario, the place the starch must be embraced and mitigated with cheesiness and acid.

You possibly can completely add frozen corn, and even peas, to this pasta for bonus veg. Simply pour some boiling water over half a cup of them whereas the garlic is sauteing, and wait till they thaw earlier than including as soon as the pasta’s performed. In case you’ve obtained any zucchini or golden squash about, you may add these in, thinly sliced, with the burrata.

For a gluten-free model, you need to use gluten-free pasta. Sadly, I’m but to search out one which behaves the identical manner within the pan, so it’s higher to cook dinner the pasta individually, halve your inventory allowance and toss the cooked pasta by means of the sauce on the finish. If burrata is eluding you, tear in some items of buffalo mozzarella or blob in some ricotta.

There was some extent in culinary historical past the place saffron value extra per gram weight than gold, and cost-of-living pressures means saffron is a nice-to-have fairly than a non-negotiable on this recipe. However for those who occur to have some saffron kicking round in your pantry from earlier paella adventures, you need to deploy it right here.

If I needed to clarify what saffron brings to a recipe, past the unique wispy stamen strands that adorn dishes alongside the spice path, I’d say it provides a grounding component – an earthiness and aroma with the slightest floral notice. There isn’t any substitute for the right stuff, which has an excellent color in a deep purple or burnt orange. So if the saffron threads you’re holding in your fingers on the retailers appear too low-cost to be true, they’re extra prone to be dyed corn silks or safflower, which is able to flip the water orange fairly than sunny yellow and offer you nada in flavour or aroma.

One-pan golden angel hair pasta with cherry tomatoes and burrata – recipe

This recipe makes a particularly beneficiant quantity for a lazy midweek feast, and can be scrumptious chilly. However for those who’d desire to make a smaller quantity, simply halve the substances.

Serves 6

4 tbsp olive oil, plus further for dressing
100g butter
1 bunch of basil, leaves picked, stems finely chopped
4-5 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
500g cherry tomatoes
A pinch of saffron threads (elective, for that X issue)
A pinch of sugar
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1.25L rooster inventory, vegetable inventory and/or water (5 cups)
500g dried angel hair egg pasta
100g finely grated parmesan (1 cup)
2 balls of burrata, torn
Lemon cheeks, to serve

Warmth the olive oil and butter in a heavy-based saucepan that’s vast sufficient to suit the pasta lengths entire. (In case you don’t have a large sufficient pan, maintain the pasta with each fingers, then twist it to interrupt in two earlier than including.)

Add the basil stems and garlic and saute for 3 to 4 minutes, or till the garlic is aromatic and turning golden. Add the cherry tomatoes and saute for 4 to 5 minutes, or till the tomatoes begin to blister and burst. In the meantime, for those who’re utilizing saffron, use a mortar and pestle to grind the threads with the sugar to a tough vibrant powder. Add the lemon juice and permit the saffron to bloom.

Pour your inventory combo right into a jug and provides it a style. Some shop-bought shares will be fairly salty, so hold this in thoughts earlier than including any additional seasoning.

Deglaze the pan with the saffron lemon juice by splashing it in and scraping the underside of the pan with a picket spoon or spatula. Pour within the inventory and produce all the pieces to the boil. Add the angel hair pasta, utilizing tongs to submerge the pasta as quickly because it begins to melt, then pop on the lid and cook dinner for 3 to 4 minutes, or till the pasta is al dente and the liquid has been (principally) absorbed.