V’s Cavatelli & Sauce

A big bowl of cavatelli & homemade sauce is the best! Italian comfort food at its finest and most delicious. I purchase Ricotta Cavatelli at a local Italian grocer here in Scottsdale called DeFalco’s but you can find it in specialty grocery stores in the freezer isle. Find it. Trust me on this.  My sauce is made from scratch, easy, and delicious. You can vary using onion, adding mushroom, whatever you like. You can also double, triple, even quadruple the recipe, can, and save for future use. Enjoy!

*Serves 6 

Ingredients

• 1 shallot finely chopped
• 2tbs of minced garlic
• 28oz crushed tomatoes
• 6oz of tomato paste
• 1/4 tsp of dried basil
• 1/4 tsp of dried oregano
• Pinch of salt and pepper
• 2 bags of 15oz of Ricotta Cavatelli

Instructions

1. Fill 3/4 way with water in a large 6qt pot and bring to a boil.
2. Meanwhile in a another large pot or dutch oven heat 2tbs of EVOO over medium heat.
3. Add chopped shallot and garlic and cook about 3 minutes.
4. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt and pepper and bring to a low boil.
5. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let all those delicious flavors marry together.
6. Put frozen cavatelli in boiling water and cook according to instructions (mine was about 16 min to the way I like it).
7. Drain and add cavatelli to the sauce.
8. Serve hot with parmesan cheese and crusty bread to soak up sauce!

BY: VIRGINIA OLIVIERI