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 is usually a little hit or miss. Whereas one pan implies you gained’t must boil the pasta individually – that means one much less merchandise to wash up – some individuals discover the pasta tends to overcook or undercook. Others are delay by the starchiness, however I like to consider this dish as a risotto-paella-pasta scenario, the place the starch ought to 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 carried out. When you’ve acquired any zucchini or golden squash about, you could possibly add these in, thinly sliced, with the burrata.

For a gluten-free model, you should utilize gluten-free pasta. Sadly, I’m but to seek out one which behaves the identical manner within the pan, so it’s higher to prepare dinner the pasta individually, halve your inventory allowance and toss the cooked pasta by way 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 a degree in culinary historical past the place saffron price extra per gram weight than gold, and cost-of-living pressures means saffron is a nice-to-have quite than a non-negotiable on this recipe. However should you occur to have some saffron kicking round in your pantry from earlier paella adventures, it is best 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 be aware. There isn’t a substitute for the right stuff, which has an excellent color in a deep pink or burnt orange. So if the saffron threads you’re holding in your palms on the outlets appear too low cost to be true, they’re extra prone to be dyed corn silks or safflower, which can flip the water orange quite than sunny yellow and provide you with 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 banquet, and can also be scrumptious chilly. However should you’d choose to make a smaller quantity, simply halve the components.

Serves 6

4 tbsp olive oil, plus additional 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 (non-compulsory, 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 huge sufficient to suit the pasta lengths entire. (When you don’t have a large sufficient pan, maintain the pasta with each palms, 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, should you’re utilizing saffron, use a mortar and pestle to grind the threads with the sugar to a tough brilliant 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 could 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 wood spoon or spatula. Pour within the inventory and convey every little thing 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 prepare dinner for 3 to 4 minutes, or till the pasta is al dente and the liquid has been (principally) absorbed.