“As far back as the 16th century, in a town called Campofilone in Le Marche, maccheroncini – remember that for centuries the word maccheroni was the generic term for all pasta – was described as so thin, it was like angel hair,” explains food writer Rachel Roddy.
Read: The history of pasta
“Nowadays, Maccheroncini di Campofilione is protected by an Indicazione Geografica Protetta or IGP (PDO – protected designation of origin in English), which defines how it’s made and in which specific area geographically.
“This recipe is inspired by a dish served at an elegant fish restaurant called Chalet Galileo, whose windows open on to an almost white beach in Civitanova in the region of Le Marche. Prawns cooked swiftly in olive oil, with white wine and scented with lemon zest, are netted for the second time in fresh egg pasta,” Ms Roddy adds. “Cooking times for the prawns and the pasta are brief, so the dish comes together incredibly quickly. A bright, swift tangle of a supper.”
Read: Pasta with Sage, Butter and Pine Nuts
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- olive oil
- 1 small clove of garlic, peeled and sliced
- pinch of red chilli flakes
- 400g small prawns, peeled
- 120ml dry white wine
- salt
- 400g fresh egg pasta, cut to approx.1mm thick, alternatively tagliolini or spaghettini
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1 heaped teaspoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Method
Bring a large pan of water to the boil for the pasta.
In a large frying pan, warm the oil, garlic and chilli gently to infuse the oil. Add the prawns, stir, then raise the heat, add the wine and a pinch of salt and allow to bubble for three minutes while you cook the pasta – which will only take a minute or so.
Read: Cantonese Garlic King Prawns
Drain the pasta, or lift directly into the prawn pan, add the lemon zest and parsley, then toss for the last time, and serve.
An A-Z Of Pasta: Stories, Shapes, Sauces, Recipes by Rachel Roddy is published by Fig Tree, available now. Photography by Jonathan Lovekin.
What’s your favourite pasta recipe? Why not share it with us in the comments section below?
– With PA
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