So, I Heart Cooking Clubs has a new chef. Nigel Slater. I have cooked one Nigel Slater recipe before: Hot and Sticky Roasted Quail. It was amazing. That was all the way back in 2008. For some unknown reason, I never tried another Nigel Slater recipe. So I was a bit excited and apprehensive about Nigel being our new chef.
First order of business was a Nigel Slater cookbook. I read through reviews and settled on Real Fast Food: 350 Recipes Ready-to-Eat in 30 Minutes Just because it had Fast in the title. This is not a review of the cookbook, but I will say that I was disappointed that there were no photos. I love food photos. I love that Donna Hay has a photo of every single recipe. Maybe he doesn’t need photos, because everything I’ve glanced at in the book so far, sounds so good. So easy and so doable. So, yes, I wish there were photos, but even without photos, I’m expecting good things.
Good things like this pasta. So easy and so fantastic! I have made something similar before, but never with anchovies. What an eye opener. The anchovies disappear leaving only their oily flavor coating every piece of pasta. The soft fine hair-like bones the only physical evidence of their presence.
Absolutely perfect weeknight pasta.
Fusilli with Olives, Anchovies, and Capers
- ⅓ cup pitted black olives
- 4 anchovy filets, rinsed and dried (I just opened a can and used them straight)
- 1 tablespoon capers, rinsed (these were in brine, I just scooped them out with a slotted spoon)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, finely sliced
- 1 pound fresh or 4 ounces dried pasta
- freshly grated parmesan cheese
Chop the olives and anchovies and add the capers. Warm the oil in a shallow pan and stir in all the ingredients except the pasta. Allow to warm through, but do not let them bubble.
Cook pasta in boiling salted water per directions. Drain and place in a warm serving bowl. Pour over the heated olive sauce3. Stir gently and serve with the parmesan.
Serves 2
This will be my entry for I Heart Cooking Clubs Cooking with Nigel Slater!
This will be my entry for Foodie Friday at the every so lovely Rattlebridge Farm.
Couscous & Consciousness says
That book sounds great - anything which offers "fast" food with minimum effort has to be a winner. The Nigel Slater books I have do have photos, but definitely not of every dish, and I must admit that I do miss that too. However, he has such a glorious way of describing every dish, it's contents and methodology, that he still makes me want to dive right in even without the alluring photo. Something which makes his cookbooks a great read as well as just recipe offerings.
Tina says
I like that cookbook, it fits easily inside my purse. He's more of a writer who cooks and I love his ramblings.
Nice pasta dish, I have to find some gluten free pasta but I'd love to try this one,
Tina says
I like that cookbook, it fits easily inside my purse. He's more of a writer who cooks and I love his ramblings.
Nice pasta dish, I have to find some gluten free pasta but I'd love to try this one,
Kim says
I'm glad you shared your opinion about the Real Fast cookbook. I bought Tender but I can't resist the lure of "fast" recipes. I'll miss the photos, but I'm willing to make do.
Sounds like the anchovies really make this dish!
Michelle Meche says
I'll have to make this for my son, Pam. He loves capers and anchovies. Looks like a good pasta for a hot summer evening...with a glass of chilled white wine, of course!
grace says
i'm SO squeamish about anchovies, though i'm not entirely sure why. this actually sounds really delicious if i can get past the fish!
grace says
i'm SO squeamish about anchovies, though i'm not entirely sure why. this actually sounds really delicious if i can get past the fish!
kitchen flavours says
I was thinking of getting this book of Nigel, but ended up buying two of his other books.
This pasta dish looks delicious, and I love using anchovies.
A wonderful welcome dish!
Zosia says
This sounds like a great dish with all of those bold flavours. Definitely one I'd like ti try.
ostwestwind says
Oh, everything with pasta sounds good for me. I think I's love this too.
Deb in Hawaii says
I have a really old copy of this book that I got at a used book store several years ago an have made several things from it. Although the no-pictures thing is a downer for many Nigel books, it's a great book to grab when you want to make something quick and mostly from the pantry. I am going to have to tag this recipe to make--it looks fabulous! 😉
La Table De Nana says
Bet it is delish..
Susan Lindquist says
Yum on the fusilli ... bet you are going to love Nigel Slater's recipes! I have been a fan for a good while now ...I'm looking for ward to this chef cycle ...although six months of weekly posts is a big committment that I usually slack a bit on ...
Pam says
I will be checking out his cookbooks. Your fusilli dish sounds delicious with those anchovies! Great book below. I'm retired from a large social service agency dealing with developmental disabilities and many autistic people. They are indeed focused on detail and she made many great points.
Big Dude says
I think I would love this dish Pam
Joanne says
I've never made anything by Nigel! I feel like i should buy one of his cookbooks now...