Dec 15
Sin categoría
Black Spaghetti dressed in Xmas colours
Decorating the house these days is one of the highligthed thingstodo in my December list… and believe me or not… I still haven’t done it!!! This afternoon, my daughter and I will roll up our sleeves and light up the house. We will get the tree garnished the candles lighted, the Tió will get its blanket on and we’ll feed it with some orange peels… the house will be ready for Xmas!
Why shouldn’t we do our best when presenting our Xmas dishes too? Let’s take this pasta dish for example: simple and impacting at the same time! I enjoy making the ingredients’ colours contrast. Would this be the same with beige spaghetti? Nope! I want to see my life in colours ;D.
Here you have the elegant black for the inked spaghetti, the passionate red for the shrimps, the Grinch Green for the Pesto sauce and the white representing the snow… place the ingredients in a nice way and get some woaaaahhhhhs from your guests :D
I pretended to send a fish/seafood dish to Maryann and her Seven Fishes Feast at Finding la Dolce Vita and thought I had time until the 18th… wrong!!! She already has the round up showing, I’m a little bit up there in the clouds lately… sorry Maryann, I will link this post to your round up so that people find more inspired dishes there :D.
Ingredients for 4 servings: 400 grs of black spaghetti, 12 fresh shrimps, a bunch of pine nuts, some pesto sauce, salt, olive oil and some parsley.
- Get some olive oil in a sauce pan and when hot, add the shrimps (previously clean, whiskers cut and dry), fry for only 30 seconds per side and reserve. Keep that oil in the sauce pan.
- Prepare a Pesto sauce: 50g basil leaves, 4 tablespoons (60 ml) of pine nuts, 2 garlic cloves, 120 ml (1 / 2 cup) of extra virgin olive oil, 115 grams of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 25 grams of cheese freshly grated Pecorino (optional) I didn’t use it.
Use a blender to get an homogeneous paste with the basil, garlic and pine nuts until a homogeneous paste. Add the olive oil little by little, in the form of thin wire, while beating to achieve a perfect emulsion. Add the shrimps oil too. Add cheese and stir with a wooden spoon. Try and add salt and pepper if needed.
- Boil the spaghetti in salty water following package instructions. Strain and reserve.
- Toast some pine nuts in pan.
- Present the dish: Pour the Pesto over the pasta and mix, place the peeled shrimps and sprinkle with the pine nuts. Decorate with parsley. Easy!!!
Ups… I nearly forget… If you want to find out about Tió, you will have to read the following posts ;D. I’ll give you a small hint: It’s a Xmas Catalan tradition :D
I’m on time!!!! I’m on time!!! It was until the 18th… just saw it :D. Please also notice that Maryann is organizing the event together with Joe from Italyville! Check both blogs for round ups and great recipes :D
Comments
Great job, Nuria. So festive looking…so perfect for a first dish on Christmas Eve! The ‘tio’ has got my curiosity…I’m assuming it’s not your uncle. :)
I wonder where I can get ahold of spaghetti that has black ink here in the states.
What a lovely dish! It looks so elegant, festive and delicious. It is hard to find black spaghetti where I live, but I’ll have to work on it. This dish is worth the effort! :)
So beautiful, Nuria! I’m still hoping to make it before the 18th, but with D gone taking care of his dad and my being on bachelorette duty this week and taking care of C, a nice fish dish is seeming a little less within reach by Thursday.
Boooohooo!
Nuria, this is very creative yet simple in approach. I know why you don’t want the shrimp whiskers…they tickle you when you’re eating!
This looks phenomenal, Nuria! So festive and delicious!
You are on time! Thanks for joining us… it looks delicious.
Thanks Nuria! It looks great!
This is a gorgeous way to celebrate the holidays! Nicer than all the usual cookies, in my opinion. I haven’t tried squid ink pasta yet, but it’s on my list.
Your Xmas cheer is certainly addictive Nuria…the pasta dish looks so decorative and perfect!
Very nice. I really like the looks of this. I was at the Italian store this weekend and was looking at the black pasta trying to think about what I could make with it. I like the contrast.
Núria, estas fotos se ven espectaculares!! Me encantan todo los colores!!
I’m flying home for Christmas this week, so I want to wish you an early Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, y también un año nuevo lleno de salud, alegría y mucha, mucha comida rica :)
Hi Joan! You will soon find out ;D… he, he, no, nothing to do with uncles :D
Hola Nathan! Don’t you have Italian stores nearby? Maybe ordering through Internet?
Thanks so much Susan :D. It certainly catches people’s eyes :D
Oh, Jen… I’m sorry about your life tribulances… I hope you have it all settled by Xmas and you enjoy the Festive days :D
Dear Peter… you always put a smile on my face!!!!
Hey Js! Time to celebrate… in life, house and dishes ;D
Thanks so much Joe and welcome to Spanish Recipes!!!
You are so welcome Maryann! So glad to be a part of your event :D
Baking cookings is a fun tradition too Heather! I should learn it from you and take the chance now that you all went nuts with it ;D
Hola Peter… amigo! More Xmas dishes comming!!!! Not getting tired of it yet ;D
Hey Psychgrad, now you don’t have an excuse… come on and try it, you will love it♥
Muchas gracias querido tony! Feliz Navidad a ti también y que lo pases estupendamente :D
This as sexy & as spectacular as pata will ever get Nuria…it’s STUNNING! Black is my fave colour…& this black is better than any I’ve seen. fantastic combination, beauitful plating & finger-licking good recipe. I’m coming over too…LOV & hugs.
I bet this tasted just divine…I mean it looks great!
There is still time to submit the recipe to Maryann she has a running roundup where she just adds the dishes as they arrive. I have seen the squid ink pasta at out Italian market…love the festive colours!!!!
Wow Deeba… I need you to comment every day in the morning ;D You get me high!!!!! Thanks so much darling :D
Thanks Darius! He, he you guessed right :D
I know Valli, thanks! I got all mixed up. I finally submitted it :D
I love the black spaghetti! I haven’t been able to find a source for it since moving to FLA. But I am still on a search! This looks wonderful!
I hope you and your daughter have a wonderful time getting the house ready!
Delicioso! That looks absolutely amazing. Color, plating, everything is beautiful. You know, I have never eaten black pasta and I would love to right about now …
I have never seen black spaghetti before…this looks great! The colors are spectacular.
I saw these black spaghetti at the supermarket the other day. Next time I shall get some. Your dish looks so beautiful.