Fresh pasta with scallops and a vodka-flavored sauce is a traditional Italian dinner. "Each Christmas when we were small, my mother would gather all my sisters and brothers into the kitchen to help make fresh pasta for Christmas dinner," an Italian cooking student of mine once recalled. "Shell fish and a vodka sauce were always served with our pasta."
Lucky for us, we can enjoy this dish with fresh pasta available in our supermarkets.
Fred Tasker's wine suggestion: The rich, creamy sauce in this dish would be nicely matched by a creamy California chardonnay.
Helpful Hints:
_ Fat-free chicken broth can be substituted for fish broth.
_ Fresh diced or chopped onion found in the produce department can be used instead of frozen onion.
_ Look for washed, ready-to-eat Italian-style salad with red radicchio leaves for the side dish.
Countdown:
_ Place water for pasta on to boil.
_ Prepare scallops.
_ Remove scallops and use same skillet for sauce.
_ Boil pasta.
_ Prepare salad.
Shopping List:
Here are the ingredients you'll need for tonight's Dinner in Minutes.
1 package frozen diced/chopped onion, 1 small bottle vodka, 1 large, ripe tomato or 3 plum tomatoes, } pound baby or bay scallops,1small carton heavy cream, 1 bunch basil, 1 package fresh linguine, 1 container plain breadcrumbs, 1 bottle clam juice and 1 bag washed, ready-to-eat Italian-style salad.
Staples: Olive oil, minced garlic, cornstarch, reduced-fat oil and vinegar dressing, salt and black peppercorns.
