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Spicy Seafood Pasta Recipe

Ingredients
  

For the pasta:
  • 1 lb spaghetti
  • For the seafood:
  • 2 lb mussels
  • 2 lb shrimp the unpeeled kind if you can get them
  • Optional: 2 lb clams scallops, calamari, or whatever looks good at the store
For the sauce:
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper flake more if you like heat, less if you don't
  • 28 oz can tomatoes whole peeled San Marzano are amazing, but regular crushed tomatoes work great too
  • 3 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • Salt
  • Chopped parsley
  • Lemon juice

Method
 

  1. Step 1: Grab a large pot and heat it over medium. Add a few tablespoons of olive oil and your diced onion. Let it cook until it's soft and sweet, about 7-8 minutes. Don't rush this part.
  2. Step 2: Throw in your minced garlic and red pepper flake. Stir it around until your kitchen smells incredible, about 2 minutes.
  3. Step 3: Add the tomato paste and let it cook until it starts to get a little darker and caramelize. This takes about 4-5 minutes and it's what gives the sauce that deep, rich flavor.
  4. Step 4: Pour in your wine (the shrimp-infused one if you made it) and let it reduce for about 5 minutes. Use your spoon to scrape up any tasty bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.
  5. Step 5: Time for the tomatoes. You can crush them with your hands right into the pot, blend them smooth, or just use crushed tomatoes from the can. Whatever feels right to you.
  6. Step 6: Turn the heat up to medium-high and let everything cook together for 10-15 minutes. You want it to thicken up a bit. Stir it often so nothing sticks. Add a pinch of salt and taste it. Adjust if you need to.