Rigatoni with Andouille and Tomatoes

Rigatoni and sausage is a match made in heaven. Here I match together Rigatoni with Cajun Andouille sausage and tomatoes. Swap out for whatever other favorite sausage or what you have on hand. Broccoli also goes will with this dish.

1/2 lb Rigatoni pasta

2 links Cajun Andouille sausage (I used Aidells), thinly sliced

1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves

2 fresh ripe tomatoes, diced

2 Tbsp butter

shredded Parmesan cheese for garnish

snipped chives for garnish, if desired

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Add a tablespoon or so of Kosher salt - the water should taste like seawater. Cook the pasta with regular stirring, just until al dente.

Meanwhile, sauté the sausage in a dash of olive oil just until browned. Add the garlic and thyme and cook another 2-3 minutes.

Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water and then drain pasta. Turn up the heat on the sausage and add the tomatoes and the butter.

Let the tomatoes sizzle for about 2-3 minutes to warm them through. But do not allow them to cook down completely.

Tip the pasta into the pan with the sausage and moisten with just enough cooking water to make a glazed sauce.

Tip pasta into a serving bowl and garnish with chives.

Serves 4.

Comments

Umami Beef Short Ribs Samin Nosrat

This is the penultimate prep for beef short ribs. Based on the superb documentary by Samin Nosrat, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, this is the most umami rib dish you will ever have. Its the combination of red miso and soy sauce that marinates and flavors the beef - give it a long time to work right - that means overnight in the fridge; it's worth the planning ahead. 6 beef short ribs on the bone, about 3-4 lb 1 large sweet yellow onion, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 1 jalapeño pepper, minced 4 cloves garlic, halved Marinade: 1/4 cup red miso 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup pale dry sherry or Mirin rice wine 1 Tbsp sesame oil 1 Tbsp honey 2 cloves garlic, minced Salt the ribs generously with coarse salt and let rest overnight in the refrigerator in a resealable plastic bag. Whisk together the marinade. Pour into the plastic bag and allow to marinate on the counter for about 2-3 hours, or again overnight in the refrigerator. Preheat...

Vinaigrette Erique 2.0

From the archives: Making a really, really good vinaigrette has been a craft in my family, and in my in-law family for generations. My late uncle, Jeannot, and Father-in-law, Bernard, (both best of friends) were each geniuses at the vinaigrette. And they both taught me. I have to say my siblings along with my sisters and brothers in-law do really now carry on the tradition as I strive to as well. In our family cookbook "Cuisine Encore" I published my go-to vinaigrette - a basic version taught to me by my French mother, Monique. It's great, yet I have been looking for something slightly more modern and upbeat. So I merged Asian rice vinegar into the mix along with fresh (not powdered) garlic with the Dijon mustard, and toned down the salt. Make it your own. I now have what I think is an even better basic vinaigrette, today. Talk to you tomorrow! 1/4 cup cider vinegar 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar 1 generous tsp Dijon mustard 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 cup ca...

Baked Grouper with Mushroom Wine Sauce

Fresh fish baked in a creamy mushroom sauce is always a rich reward after a hard day's work. 3/4 lb grouper (or other favorite white fish) cut into 2 portions Sauce: 2 Tbsp butter 1/2 cup onion, very finely diced 2 cloves garlic, minced through a press 1/3 cup pale dry sherry or dry white wine 1/3 cup half and half or cream 1 Tbsp corn starch 1 4-oz can mushrooms, drained and liquid reserved Preheat oven to 375F. Sauté the onions in the butter, in a sauce pan for about 8-10 minutes, until slightly caramelized. Add the garlic and cook for about 2 more minutes. Add the sherry and half and half, and bring to a gentle boil. Whisk together the mushroom liquid with the cornstarch in a small bowl. Whisk this mixture into the boiling sauce until thickened. Add mushrooms and salt and pepper to taste. Adjust thickness with wine, water or chicken broth if necessary, or allow sauce to thicken more by reducing slightly. Lay...

Cuisine Eric

Search This Blog