Bucatini Del Giordino
Ingredients
- 2 -3 Cups Fresh Spinach
- 1 Medium - Large Red Bell Pepper
- 8 - 10 Garlic Cloves
- 2 tsp. Dried Basil
- 2 tsp. Dried Oregano
- 1 tsp. Dried Thyme
- to taste Red Pepper Flakes
- to taste Salt and Pepper
- 3 Cups Chicken Broth
- 3 Cups Half and Half
- 6 tbs. Butter
- 1 lb. box Bucatini
- 1/2 Cup Grated Parmesean (optional)
- Olive oil (if needed)
Instructions
Combine the spinach, bell pepper, garlic cloves, and seasonings* into the bowl of a food processor or blender* and puree into a fine blend, but not a paste. Put the mixture into a bowl and set aside.*When seasoning something like this that you can not taste right off the bat, its best to air on the side of caution and use less until your sauce comes together and you can get a taste. Then you can always add more seasoning of your choosing right into the pot - but you can't take any out. Be light-handed with the red pepper flakes in particular, until you have made this a few times and know what looks right to you.*Depending on the size of your bowl, you may need to divide it into two batches (in which case, divide each thing in half and do it twice). I need to do two batches because my food processor is small. You may also need to add a bit of olive oil to help the puree along. I find that picking up the bowl and shaking it helps just fine though.Melt 2 tbs. of the butter into a large stock or pasta pot over medium heat. Add the vegetable mixture and sauté a minute or two until fragrant and bubbly.Pour in the chicken broth, half and half, and the remaining 4 tbs. of butter. Turn the heat up to high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the pasta directly to the pot, stirring slowly as the pasta softens to fit the pasta in without breaking it. With all the pasta submerged in the sauce, lower the heat and simmer the sauce for 18 - 24 minutes until the pasta is cooked and your sauce is thick.Turn the heat off (and stir in Parmesan cheese if desired) and cover to allow sauce to thicken perfectly. Uncover, stir, serve and enjoy.
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: Serves 4