Ingredients

  • 1 pound capellini or angel hair pasta
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Half alarge white onion, thinly sliced
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 ½ pounds zucchini, diced
  • 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch lengths
  • 1 1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
  • 1 1/4 cups red wine (I use an inexpensive Spanish Tempranillo), plus additional as needed
  • 1 1/4 cups water, plus additional as needed
  • Minced fresh flatleaf parsley leaves for garnish

Ready In 45 Minutes

Servings: 4

Cooking Instructions

Step 1

  • Preheat the oven to 375F. Break the capellini into approximately 3-inch lengths.
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Step 2

  • Spread the pasta on a baking sheet, slide it into the oven, and toast, tossing occasionally with tongs, until golden brown, about 12 minutes.
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  • Length: 12 minutes

Step 3

  • Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pot (at least 5 1/2 quarts) with a lid over medium heat.
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Step 4

  • Add the onion, garlic, and a pinch of salt and cook, allowing them only to soften and grow aromatic but not brown, about 5 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the zucchini and another pinch of salt. Saut until the zucchini is well browned, about 5 more minutes.
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  • Length: 10 minutes

Step 5

  • Place the noodles on top of the zucchini mixture.
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Step 6

  • Layer the asparagus and 1 cup of the cherry tomatoes on top of that and sprinkle in the smoked paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, oregano, and rosemary.
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Step 7

  • Pour the red wine and cup of water over the top. Toss as best you can with tongs; it will be hard at first because the noodles are stiff. Return the heat to medium and cover the pot.
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Step 8

  • Every 3 minutes, remove the lid and toss the pasta. The total cooking time will be 8 to 12 minutes. Toward the end, taste a noodle each time you remove the lid to see if it is done. If not, and there isnt any moisture left on the bottom of the pot, add a bit more wine or water, about 1/3 cup.
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  • Length: 11 minutes

Step 9

  • When the noodles are done to your liking, taste and make any final adjustments to the seasoning.
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Step 10

  • Transfer to serving bowls.
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Step 11

  • Garnish with the remaining 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, the parsley, and another grind of black pepper.
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Step 12

  • Serve immediately.