Going out for dinner (the back deck)

Posted by Michael on Aug 12, 2009 in Recipes | 0 comments

In the summer, I like to keep it simple.

I don’t want to spend a whole lot of time in the kitchen when the weather is nice as it’ll only be that way here in New Brunswick for what seems like a heartbeat.

Sure enough, it’s now almost mid-August and we’re finally seeing some decent weather after one of the wettest Julys on record.

Thankfully the nice weather coincides with the availability of some great local produce.  We’re now seeing local onions, potatoes, garlic, and even peppers among some of the recent additions to local small markets.   Fresh and local means great flavour and fast cooking times, which fits perfectly with my desire to get out of the kitchen as fast as possible and out onto the back deck with dinner.

Here’s a simple pasta that makes use of some fresh garlic, onions, tomatoes and bell pepper, all items I just got yesterday out of my dad’s garden in Digby.  Combined with the briney goodness of black olives and the heat of some dried chilies, this makes for a fast and fabulous pasta.  Feel free to add other vegetables such as zucchini (great right now too) or even cured meats like prosciutto to this.

Spaghetti with tomato, bell pepper and hot chile

Dried spaghetti for two

Extra virgin olive oil

1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped

1 tomato, seeded and chopped

1/2 small red or green bell pepper

5 black olives, pitted and chopped

1 small dried chile, finely chopped (or more to taste)

Pepper to taste

Bring a large pot of generously salted water to the boil and drop in your pasta.  While that’s cooking, heat a fry pan over medium-high heat and add a tablespoon or so of olive oil.   Add the onion and saute for a minute or so, then add the garlic.  Saute for just a few seconds and add the tomato,  chopped pepper, black olives and hot chile.   Stir and saute until the pasta is ready.   Add a few tablespoons of the pasta cooking water to the sauce if it cooks down too dry.   Drain the pasta and toss in the pan with the sauce, adding a little bit more olive oil and pepper to taste.   Plate it up and get outside!