Cavatelli Pasta with Rocket

Method6 steps · about 30 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Clean the rocket (300 g), wash it well, with cold water. Then drain it in a colander and keep aside. Wash the cherry tomatoes (12) and cut in half. Peel the garlic (2). Chop the red chili if using fresh.

   Uses 300 g rocket (arugula), wild or cultivated · 12 cherry tomatoes (cut in half) · 2 garlic cloves (peeled) · 1 tsp peperoncino (red chili pepper) (fresh or dried)

2. 2

   Step 2: Next, prepare the tomato sauce. Put the garlic cloves, the chili pepper and 4-5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan or skillet. (also anchovy fillets if using) Fry for a few minutes until the garlic has softened and the anchovy has started to melt. Then add the cherry tomatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes until they start to soften.

   Uses Prepared garlic and chili, then the halved tomatoes · 4–5 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil · 1–2 anchovy fillets, optional

   
3. 3

   Step 3: Add the 300 g passata to the cherry-tomato pan, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 10 minutes until thickened. Remove the garlic cloves.

   Simmer Tomato Sauce · 10 minUses The softened garlic, chili and cherry tomatoes, with optional anchovy · 300 g tomato passata · Salt to taste for sauce · Black pepper to taste for sauce

   
4. 4

   Step 4: While the sauce cooks, boil a pot of water, salt it and bring it back to a boil. Add the pasta. For dried pasta, follow the packet timing and add rocket as directed in step 5. For fresh pasta, add the washed rocket at the same time as the pasta; cook until the pasta floats and is tender. Keep the pasta in the pot until reserving water and draining in step 5.

   Uses Water for pasta and rocket · Salt for pasta water · 400 g cavatelli or orecchiette, dried or fresh · For fresh pasta only: add the drained washed rocket together with the pasta

5. 5

   Step 5: Add the rocket to the pasta 5 minutes before the pasta is ready. If you are using fresh pasta the rocket can cook with it from the start. Save a cup of the cooking water and drain the pasta and rocket.

   Uses Pasta cooking in salted water; fresh-pasta route already contains the rocket · For dried pasta only: all washed drained rocket, added for the final 5 minutes

   
6. 6

   Step 6: Add the pasta and rocket to the tomato sauce. Mix everything together well and season to taste. If the sauce seems dry add some of the pasta cooking water. Serve immediately with grated cheese.

   Uses All drained pasta and rocket · All thickened tomato sauce · Some of the 1 cup reserved water only if dry · 50 g pecorino cheese (grated) or vegetarian cheese (( 2oz) or ricotta salata or cacioricotta) · Final seasoning salt only if needed · Final pepper only if needed