Spaghetti with Sea Truffles (Spaghetti ai Tartufi di Mare)
Category: Pasta Dishes
Serves: 4
This indulgent and flavorful Italian dish, Spaghetti ai Tartufi di Mare, is a delightful treat for seafood lovers. The rich and aromatic sea truffles paired with perfectly cooked spaghetti make for a satisfying and elegant meal. Let’s dive into how to prepare this delicacy!
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Rigatoni Spaghetti | 320g |
| Sea Truffles (Tartufi di Mare) | 1kg |
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil | 50g |
| White Wine | 50g |
| Fresh Parsley | q.b. (to taste) |
| Salt | q.b. (to taste) |
| Freshly Ground Black Pepper | q.b. (to taste) |
Instructions
-
Prepare the Sea Truffles:
- Begin by cleaning the sea truffles. Place them in a large bowl filled with salted water and let them sit for at least an hour. This process helps the truffles purge any excess sand.
- After soaking, transfer the sea truffles into a colander and rinse them under cold water. Add a generous amount of coarse salt to the water, mimicking the salinity of the sea. If you notice any open shells, discard them as they indicate that the truffle is no longer fresh and could affect the flavor of the dish.
-
Flavor the Oil:
- Peel the garlic cloves, slice them in half, and remove the central germ (the green part) to ensure a milder, more delicate garlic flavor.
- Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a pan over medium heat and add the garlic. Let it sizzle and infuse the oil for a couple of minutes until golden and fragrant. Once the garlic has softened and infused the oil, remove it from the pan.
-
Cook the Sea Truffles:
- Add the cleaned sea truffles to the pan with the garlic-infused oil. Continue to cook them on medium heat, letting them absorb the flavors from the oil.
- Pour in the white wine and allow the alcohol to cook off, leaving only the essence of the wine to enrich the dish. After a few minutes, remove the shells from the truffles, keeping the mollusks aside for later.
-
Prepare the Sea Truffle Sauce:
- Once all the truffles are shelled, strain the cooking liquid through a fine mesh sieve or sterile cheesecloth to ensure there are no sand particles left.
- Finely chop the fresh parsley and set it aside for garnish.
-
Cook the Spaghetti:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the rigatoni spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente.
- As the spaghetti nears completion, reserve a cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
-
Combine Pasta and Sauce:
- Add the cooked spaghetti directly to the pan with the sea truffle sauce. By mixing the pasta into the sauce, the pasta will release its starch, naturally thickening the sauce and enhancing the overall flavor.
- Stir the pasta well to ensure the sauce evenly coats each strand of spaghetti.
-
Finish the Dish:
- Add the sea truffles back to the pasta and toss everything together gently.
- Drizzle with a little more extra virgin olive oil and season with freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of salt, if needed.
- Sprinkle the chopped parsley over the top for a fresh, herbal note.
-
Serve and Enjoy:
- Your Spaghetti ai Tartufi di Mare is now ready to serve. Plate the dish, ensuring that each portion gets a generous helping of sea truffles and a beautiful finish of olive oil and parsley. Enjoy the unique flavors and the luxury of this exquisite seafood pasta.
Tips for a Perfect Spaghetti with Sea Truffles
- Sea Truffles: If you can’t find fresh sea truffles, you can try using other types of fresh shellfish like clams or mussels for a similar briny, seafood-rich flavor.
- Pasta Cooking Water: Don’t forget to reserve some of the pasta cooking water! This starchy liquid is a great way to adjust the consistency of your sauce if it feels too thick.
- Wine: Choose a dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, for the best results. It will enhance the overall taste without overpowering the delicate seafood flavor.
This dish pairs wonderfully with a light white wine or even a crisp rosé. Serve it for a special occasion, or as a luxurious weeknight treat that brings the taste of the sea straight to your table. Bon Appétit!
