Salsa di Pomodoro e Fagiolini
La Ricetta del Giorno / Today's Recipe
Penne Lisce e Fagiolini con Salsa di Pomodoro Fresco e Basilico / Smooth Penne and String Beans With Fresh Tomato Sauce and Basil
My Mom, Maria, was queen in her kitchen. She fed her large family well and, like most Italians, we ate pasta every day before the main course. Mom tended to her "orto" (vegetable garden) with pride and on a hot summer day, she would pick tomatoes, herbs, eggplants... and make any pasta dish more interesting, refreshing and appetizing. Summer is gone. So is my Mom. But the nostalgia of her cooking and flavors of her summer pasta dishes played tricks on my mind and on my palate today; so, I had to have pasta and string beans, Mom's recipe, which I am delighted to share with you.
Hope you enjoy it, too.
Ingredienti / Ingredients
8 pomodori Roma o San Marzano già lessati e spellati / 8 Roma or San Marzano tomatoes steamed and peeled
Foglie di basilico fresco / Fresh basil leaves
Olio di oliva / Olive oil (always extra virgin)
3-4 spicchi di aglio fresco già tritato / 3-4 cloves of crushed fresh garlic
2 manciate di fagiolini già lessati / 2 handful of string beans already steamed
1/2 kg di penne lisce o rigate / 1 lb of smooth or lined penne
Preparazione / Ingredients
Cuoci i pomodori al vapore e sbucciali / Steam and peel the tomatoes
Riempi una pentola grande con acqua che farai bollire prima di versare la pasta e prima di iniziare a preparare la salsa / Fill up a big pot with water and bring to a boil before you pour the pasta and start making the sauce
Versa alcuni cucchiai di olio di oliva in una padella con l'aglio già tritato e lascia indorare / Pour a few spoons of olive oil in the pan, add the crushed garlic until golden
Versa i pomodori già lessati, sbucciati e schiacciati nell'olio bollente e i fagiolini già cotti e lascia cuocere per 2-3 minuti / Pour the fresh tomatoes already steamed, peeled and crushed in the hot oil and the string beans already steamed and let cook for 2-3 minutes
Nel frattempo, cuoci la pasta per 9-10 minuti / Meanwhile, pour the penne in the boiling water and let cook for 9-10 minutes (al dente)
Una volta pronta, scola la pasta e mescolala con la salsa nella padella / Once done, drain the pasta and mix it with the sauce in the pan
Aggiungi il basilico fresco, il parmigiano (Reggiano) e servi a tavola / Add the fresh basil, the parmesan cheese (Reggiano) and serve
Buon appetito! Bon Appétit! Enjoy!
For more recipes (and to learn conversational Italian), download any of the 12 audible Italian language eBooks from the series: “L'ITALIANO PER I TURISTI: Il VIAGGIO IN ITALIA DI MAURO E CARLA BIANCHI.” Appendix Section. Lee DeMilo, 2013.
