Livia's delightful Pasta Alla Margherita

To showcase Dubai's diverse culinary culture I  asked friends around the city to share their favourite recipes with me. My friend Livia Fama - who is Canadian-Italian - gave me this yummy one. Before we get on to the recipe, here's a little something about Livia...



When Livia's not
cooking, she's writing,
reading or telling
 jokes in a brilliant 
Italian accent...

What do you do in Dubai? I’m a Canadian transplant working in academia. I like to cook, read, write and eavesdrop on strangers’ conversations.
What's the best place to eat on Dubai's old creek side? There’s a nondescript fish place right beside the silk souk - I can’t remember its name though. It has great grilled fish and a charming atmosphere, especially in the evening.

What’s the best meal you’ve ever made? I think my Pasta Alla Margherita!

What’s the best meal you’ve ever eaten? I think it would be one of the fish fry ups that Italians typically have on the eve of big holidays; deep-fried calamari, scallops, pan-fried sole, shrimps and baccala (salted cod) dressed with olive oil and parsley, accompanied by a big crisp salad with fennel and radicchio. Simple, fresh and amazing!

Is there anything you would never, ever eat that’s common fare somewhere else in the world? I think maybe a beating cobra heart (popular in Vietnam), or escargot! I’ve always been absolutely terrified of snails and I don’t like how they carry their homes on their backs. It’s creepy.
.
If you could dine anywhere in the world tonight, where would you go and why? That’s easy! It would be Il Girasole in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto in the Messina province, Sicily. The slow food concept and no frills decor is homey and down to earth. The menu consists of a variety of Southern Italian specialties including local fresh fish, many eggplant dishes and typical Sicilian desserts. Forget about pomp and circumstance; this place is for reals.


Livia's Pasta Alla Margherita recipe

I refer to this pasta as ‘Margherita’ because of its simplicity and the holy trinity of Italian ingredients it incorporates - pasta, fresh tomato sauce and basil. This recipe is enough to serve two people.

You will need:

• Five medium-sized Roma tomatoes (ripe)
• Virgin olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Brown sugar
• 1 kg farfalle (or another pasta of your choice
• Fresh basil

1. Get the pasta on the boil. 
2. Pre-heat a large saucepan, covering its base in olive oil.
3. Halve the tomatoes and place them face down in the saucepan when the oil begins to sizzle.
4. Add salt and pepper to taste.
5. Slowly stir the tomatoes, pressing down on them periodically with a large wooden spoon.
6. Let the tomatoes simmer. When the skins begin to crack, continue to stir until they have boiled down to a thick sauce.
7. Add sugar to taste.
8. Once the pasta is ready and drained, pour back into the sauce pot and pour the sauce on top, mixing slowly.
9. Serve in a bowl and place two basil leaves on the top for decoration.

Thanks for the pic Livia! Looks delicious!

 If you're keen on sharing your favourite recipe, please email me on angela.hundal@gmail.com. Chat soon!