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Paccheri with 3 Tomatoes

17/11/2023

This is a dish that celebrates the versatility and richness of the tomato, using three different types for a full and layered flavor.

Ingredients

  • 320 g of paccheri
  • 200 g of cherry tomatoes
  • 200 g of date tomatoes
  • 200 g of San Marzano tomatoes
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • A bunch of basil
  • Extra virgin olive oil (EVO)
  • Salt to taste
  • Chili pepper (optional)
  • Grated Pecorino Romano cheese (optional)

Preparation

  1. To begin, wash all the tomatoes and cut them. You can cut the cherry tomatoes in half, the date tomatoes into quarters, and the San Marzano into larger cubes to have different textures.
  2. Take a large pan and sauté the garlic cloves in the extra virgin olive oil. If you like a spicy touch, you can also add some chopped chili pepper.
  3. When the garlic is golden, add the cherry and date tomatoes and let them cook for about 5 minutes, then add the San Marzano tomatoes.
  4. Season with salt to your taste and cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes, until the sauce reduces slightly and the tomatoes release all their flavor. During cooking, crush some of the tomatoes with a fork or wooden spoon.
  5. In the meantime, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the paccheri until al dente.
  6. Drain the pasta and transfer it to the pan with the tomato sauce, mixing well to ensure the paccheri are fully flavored.
  7. Add the hand-torn basil leaves and, if desired, sprinkle with grated Pecorino Romano cheese before serving.

The sauce with three types of tomatoes is simple but full of flavor. Each type of tomato brings a different sweetness, texture, and acidity, creating a tasty balance in the final dish. If you want a creamier touch, you can add a knob of butter or a drizzle of fresh cream before finishing cooking the sauce.

Curiosity

Paccheri is a pasta typically from Campania, highly appreciated for its ability to hold the sauce inside its wide and cylindrical shape. A dish like paccheri with three tomatoes is a perfect example of Mediterranean cuisine where the simplicity of ingredients translates into a richness of flavors.