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Greek-Style Penne
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Serves 4
Prep time: 10 minutes Total time: 20 minutes |
- 1 large or 2 medium red bell peppers
- 1 bunch flat-leaf (Italian) parsley
- 8 oz. feta cheese (preferably Greek or Turkish)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 1 lb. best-quality penne
Shopping List
- Black pepper
- Dried oregano
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Garlic
- Sea salt
Pantry Items
- Chef’s knife
- Heavy skillet
- Large stockpot or pasta pot
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Paring knife
- Spatula
- Strainer
- Tongs
Tools
- Wine: A rousing red with this one – try one from California
- Dessert: Ice cream and cookies
Suggestions
- When you walk in the door
- Fill the pasta pot 2/3 with water, add 2 tbsps. salt and put over high heat
- Get out Pantry Items
- Get out Tools
- Assemble the ingredients
- Open the wine and pour yourself a glass
- Prep
- Core the red peppers (remove all the white pith). Coarsely chop them.
- Rinse and pat dry the herbs. Pluck 1/2 cup parsley and 1/4 cup oregano.
- Peel and coarsely chop the garlic.
- Start Cooking
- Heat 2 tbsps. oil in the heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the peppers, stir and when they start sizzling reduce the heat to medium, cover and cook them while you remove the stems from the cherry tomatoes and cut them in half. Stir the peppers once in awhile.
- Add the tomatoes and the garlic to the peppers and stir.
- When the water boils add the penne, stir and cook until it is al dente, 7-12 minutes. Continue to cook the peppers and tomatoes while the pasta cooks, stirring it once in awhile.
- Mince the parsley, add it to the peppers and stir.
- Crumble 1 tsp. oregano into the peppers and stir. Taste for seasoning and add more if you like.
- While the pasta cooks, set the table.
- When the pasta is al dente drain it, reserving some of the cooking liquid. Add it to the peppers in the skillet and stir it so all the ingredients are mixed. Crumble in the feta, stir one more time, and remove it from the heat.
- Divide the pasta evenly among 4 plates or shallow bowls. Garnish with a sprig of parsley and serve.
- Take the plates to the table, along with the wine. Καλή όρεξη (Kalí óreksi!)
