“The Special Recipe that Sealed the Deal”
I attended a cooking class with the goal of enhancing my culinary skills, but little did I know that it would lead to a marriage proposal. In my early twenties, I enrolled in a cooking class out of frustration with my failed attempts at recipes. Dining out every night was not an option, yet I desired to create dishes in my kitchen that rivaled restaurant-quality flavors.
My inaugural cooking class was a demonstration by the late Jill Prescott on simple pastas and sauces. Jill emphasized the significance of using premium ingredients and introduced us to a classic Amatriciana sauce recipe. Unable to find guanciale, a traditional Italian pork product for the dish, Jill recommended using pancetta as an alternative, which I began using regularly. After making the pasta for my sister Julie, she remarked, “Jeanette, one day you will make your husband very happy.”
Julie had a knack for predicting things—she even foresaw that my son would be athletically inclined before his birth. Later that year, I encountered an architect named Kyle after he impressed me with lunch at a French crêperie. Our conversation extended well into the evening, prompting me to make pasta all’Amatriciana from the ingredients in my fridge. “That sealed the deal,” my husband reminisced.
Ever since that day, I have been preparing my “Marry Me Pasta.” It has become a household favorite for my husband and son due to its delicious taste, and for me, it’s a quick dish to whip up with pantry staples.
For convenience, I recommend using pre-prepped pancetta instead of guanciale. Stock up on diced pancetta from the deli section, and keep a couple of packages in the freezer for days when you want a quick homemade meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
To prepare my Marry Me Pasta for four to six servings, gather the following ingredients:
– 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil or bacon grease
– 1 cup (8 ounces) diced pancetta
– 1 medium yellow or white onion, diced
– 12 ounces angel hair pasta
– 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
– 1 cup dry red wine
– 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
– 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
– 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning the pasta water
– 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
– Freshly grated Romano or Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, to taste
Begin by boiling a large pot of salted water. In a skillet, heat oil and cook the pancetta until crispy. Add onions and sauté until caramelized. Combine tomatoes, wine, sugar, and spices, then simmer. Cook pasta al dente, drain, and mix with the sauce. Serve with grated cheese.
Enjoy your Marry Me Pasta—an easy, flavorful dish that has won over many hearts.
Add a pinch of salt and a dash of pepper to the pancetta and onions in the skillet along with some lakes. Increase the heat to medium and let it cook, stirring occasionally, until the wine has simmered down and the sauce has thickened, which should take about 5 to 10 minutes. The pasta and sauce should both be ready around the same time.
Once the sauce is ready, gently combine the drained pasta with the sauce over low heat, ensuring that each strand is well-coated. For the finishing touch, serve the dish with a generous sprinkle of grated Romano or Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
This delightful recipe is brought to you by Simply Recipes and authored by Alexandra Shytsman.
For those looking to add a personal touch to this pasta dish, consider using ALDI’s crushed tomatoes as a substitute, although the imported crushed tomatoes from a beloved Italian grocery store can truly elevate the flavors. Feel free to incorporate some chopped mushrooms while sautéing the onions, especially if your family enjoys mushrooms. Additionally, if you have fresh basil or parsley growing in your summer herb garden, don’t hesitate to add a handful of those herbs as well.
Regardless of how you choose to customize it, this pasta dish is so delicious that it might just warrant a marriage proposal. If you’re hungry for more culinary inspiration, head over to the original article on SIMPLYRECIPES.
