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Recipe For Spaghetti With Strawberries

Berry Tempting: Spaghetti With Strawberries

May 11, 2010 by Susannah Chen

It's common knowledge that strawberries are a natural addition to crumb cakes, parfaits, and cocktails. Yet I've always wanted to push the berry's boundaries, so this weekend I took the fruit to another level with a savory application.

Spaghetti and strawberries aren't a typical pairing, which is exactly why this recipe, courtesy of Manhattan restaurant Sfoglia, caught my eye. I gave it a try, despite secret fears that the end result would disappoint.

Thankfully, it didn't! Tomatoes, like rhubarb, have an acidity that's on par with strawberries, and a high-quality aged balsamic, which is more sweet than tart, helps to round out the flavors. Curious about the recipe? Then read more.

Spaghetti with Strawberries

From Sfoglia Restaurant

Ingredients

1 pound good-quality dried spaghetti (like Setaro)
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for finishing
1 pound ripe strawberries, cleaned and halved
2 tablespoons good aged (eight-year-old) balsamic vinegar
1 cup San Marzano tomato purée
4 ounces reserved pasta water
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Freshly grated parmesan, for serving (optional)

Directions

Cook the pasta in rapidly boiling salted water until al dente.
In a large sauté pan, warm the olive oil and half of the strawberries over medium heat. Cook until the strawberries start to release juice. Add balsamic and reduce by half.
Add tomato purée, the rest of the strawberries, and the reserved pasta water, and reduce by half again until the sauce thickens. Season to taste.
Toss with spaghetti. Finish with olive oil and black pepper.

Serves 4.

Information

Category: Pasta, Main Dishes
Cuisine: Italian

Vemund3590304 4 years

This is the most disguisting pasta recipe I have ever seen. What an elaborate way to ruin something as simple as spaghetti.

ShaynaLeah 7 years

I understand the theory behind this recipe, but my overriding thought is just "what a waste of strawberries!"

GummiBears 7 years

Interesting.

Soniabonya 7 years

Vinegar??? o.O I'm not a big fan of vinegar. How can balsamic pair with strawberries and not come off as overly tart and rancid?

wackdoodle 7 years

This actually give me an idea for a yearly picnic I go to. I always make something delicious and interesting. Thinking of using strawberries and other summer fruit in a cold risotto then topping it with greek yogurt or something.

fuzzles 7 years

...and this is what I love about cooking. The unexpected pairings often produce the most delicious results.

lemuse20 7 years

Woah, never would've thought to put strawberries with spaghetti (then again, not many would...) but I'm open minded about it, I think it's worth a shot just for grins!

northen123 7 years

Sounds intriguing! Will definitely have to give this a shot!