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Christmas Eve Sauce

COOK TIME
1 hr
PREP TIME
15 mins
SERVINGS
12
RATE THIS RECIPE
(21)
Christmas Eve Sauce
Anthony Michael Contrino
COOK TIME
1 hr
PREP TIME
15 mins
SERVINGS
12
RATE THIS RECIPE
(21)

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced into half moons
  • 8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, plus more for serving, optional
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine
  • One (90-ounce can) San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand
  • 2 pounds calamari, cleaned, tubes sliced into 1/2-inch rounds, tentacles halved
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 pounds linguine, cooked to al dente
  • Salt, to taste
  • Parsley, for serving

Chef notes

With calamari you either need to cook it quick or let it stew. There is no in-between. Once added to the hot pot, it will cook almost immediately, but within a few minutes will become rubbery. By stewing them in the tomatoes, they will become tender once again. The wonderful thing is, once you've stewed them, you can cool the sauce and reheat it later on.

Swap option: Use any long cut of pasta. If you can't find a 90-ounce can of tomatoes, you can substitute with three 28-ounce cans.

Preparation

1.

Combine the oil and onions in a large Dutch oven.

2.

Cook, stirring often, until the onions are softened but have not taken on any color, about 10-12 minutes.

3.

Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 2 additional minutes.

4.

Add the wine and cook until it is almost fully evaporated, about 2 minutes more.

5.

Add the tomatoes, calamari and pepper and bring to a simmer.

6.

Cook, stirring often, until the calamari is tender, about 1 hour.

7.

Season with salt, to taste.

8.

Serve with linguine and garnish with chopped parsley.