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You’ll make this easy, flavorful sauce for mafalda pasta simply by cooking sweet tomatoes with aromatic garlic, verdant zucchini, and a touch of spicy Calabrian chile paste.
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Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the zucchini; halve lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Place the tomatoes in a bowl; gently break apart with your hands.
Heat the pan of reserved caper oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sausage. Cook, stirring frequently and breaking the meat apart with a spoon, 7 to 9 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a bowl.
Heat the pan of reserved fond on medium-high until hot (if the pan seems dry, add a drizzle of olive oil). Add the sliced zucchini in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the chopped garlic and as much of the chile paste as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until combined. Add the crushed tomatoes (carefully, as the liquid may splatter); season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 4 to 6 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Turn off the heat; taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired.
Meanwhile, add the pasta to the pot of boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Turn off the heat. Reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain thoroughly and return to the pot.
To the pot of cooked pasta, add the cooked sausage, sauce, butter, and half the reserved pasta cooking water. Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until combined and the pasta is coated (if necessary, gradually add the remaining cooking water to ensure the pasta is thoroughly coated). Turn off the heat and stir in the crème fraîche until combined. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished pasta garnished with the cheese and fried capers. Enjoy!
Tips from Home Chefs