Top | Vegetarian Main Dishes
Pasta Raphael Nouvelle
(recipe, Carrie Floyd)
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Introduction
The recipe for Pasta Sauce Raphael in The New Basics Cookbook was retooled from the original Silver Palate by its authors, Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins. In turn, I have lightened and altered the recipe into a family favorite.
To further lighten it, you could substitute frozen artichokes or artichokes packed in water. I have made this with both more and fewer artichokes, and it's good either way, though my daughter believes "there's no such thing as too many artichokes."
I like to serve this sauce with any kind of nook-and-cranny pasta — bow ties, wheels, shells — and freshly grated Parmesan on the side.
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 tsp. dried oregano, freshly crumbled
- 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp. red-pepper flakes
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (28 ounces) plum tomatoes, with their juices, chopped
- 1 Parmesan rind (see Note, below)
- 1 large jar (7 to 8 ounces) artichoke hearts marinated in oil, drained and chopped
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil or Italian parsley
- Salt to taste
- Honey (optional)
- 1 lb. dried pasta, cooked
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Steps
- Heat enough olive oil to cover the bottom of a large sauté pan. Cook the onions, oregano, black pepper, and red-pepper flakes over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft.
- Add the garlic and cook for another minute, stirring, then add the chopped tomatoes, tomato juice, and the Parmesan rind; simmer for 25 minutes.
- Add the artichoke hearts and basil or parsley, and simmer for another 5 minutes. Fish out the Parmesan rind, then season the sauce to taste with salt and honey (if the sauce tastes too tart, I add a teaspoon or two of honey).
- Serve with freshly cooked pasta and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Note
Cook's tip: Designate a container in your refrigerator to hold the rinds from spent wedges of Parmesan cheese to use in recipes such as this one.