Il Cucinologo
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Pasta alla Paolina

17/11/2023

Pasta alla Paolina is a traditional Italian-inspired dish, although the name is not commonly recognized as a classic of Italian cuisine. It could therefore be a local variant or a homemade recipe named “Paolina” after the person who created it or who prepares it often.

However, imagining it as a pasta with fresh and flavorful ingredients typical of Mediterranean cuisine, I can suggest a possible interpretation of Pasta alla Paolina. If you have specific ingredients in mind or characteristics of this recipe that you wish to maintain, please provide them so that I can further customize the suggestion.

Here is a recipe that could reflect the spirit of a dish called “Pasta alla Paolina”:

Ingredients

  • 320 g of pasta (for example, spaghetti or penne)
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 250 g of cherry tomatoes
  • 100 g of pitted black olives
  • 2 tablespoons of capers in salt
  • A bunch of fresh basil
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Grated cheese (pecorino or parmesan) to taste

Preparation

  1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta.
  2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat a generous drizzle of oil with the peeled and lightly crushed garlic cloves to brown them and flavor the oil.
  3. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and the capers that have been desalted and rinsed, and cook over medium heat until the tomatoes begin to break down.
  4. Add the olives, sliced or chopped as you prefer.
  5. Cook the pasta al dente, drain it, and reserve some of the cooking water.
  6. Remove the garlic from the skillet and add the pasta, stirring well to combine the ingredients. If necessary, add a little cooking water to keep the sauce creamy.
  7. Add the basil torn by hand and stir gently.
  8. Serve with a sprinkle of grated cheese and a final drizzle of raw olive oil.

Curiosity

The name “Paolina” does not identify a specific dish in Italian cuisine, so this recipe is a free interpretation that recalls Mediterranean flavors and ingredients. If there is a specific version of the dish you are looking for, share more details and it will be a pleasure to adapt to the tradition you hold most dear.

I hope you enjoy this recipe, and if there are variations or a different interpretation you prefer, let me know!