Monday, September 15, 2008

Godfather II Linguine

I am sure my friend J.V. would have some appropriate quote from the Godfather to go along with this meal...at any rate...this is a superb dish for two (thank you Saveur Magazine for the basic ingredients)

INGREDIENTS:
Kosher salt, to taste
8 oz dried linguine
.5 cup extra virgin olive oil
.5 cup red bell pepper
.5 cup yellow bell pepper
5 cloves garlic finely chopped
1 small onion (white or yellow) finely chopped
1/2 cup white wine
8 mussels, scrubbed and debearded
1 cup halved grape tomatoes
2 tbsp unsalted butter
8 large shrimp, peeled, deveined
8 large basil leaves, shredded
Freshly ground black pepper
Freshly grated parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Bring a pot of salted water to boil over high heat. Add pasta and cook 1 minute less than al-dente (8 - 10 minutes). Drain pasta and reserve 1 cup liquid.

2. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add peppers, garlic, onion and cook for about 5 minutes (until they start to soften)
4. Add wine and mussels, cover, cook about 2 minutes until mussels open.
5. Add reserved pasta water, tomatoes, butter, and shrimp and cook about 1 minute until the shrimp are pink.
6. Add cooked linguine, toss to combine, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and clings to the pasta.
7. Stir in basil and season with salt & pepper.
8. Divide pasta between two bowls, sprinkle with more basil, and add cheese.

Note: Good idea on this to have the pasta almost cooked before starting the other items. You will add the pasta in step 6.