Casarecce Pasta alla Peperonata (sweet pepper sauce); Southern Italian Recipe.
The star of this seriously tasty casarecce pasta alla peperonata is a stewed sweet pepper sauce that’s very traditional in Southern Italy. Peperonata can also be eaten as a side dish or on bruschetta.
Pasta alla Peperonata.
Peperonata is a vegetarian Mediterranean recipe based on sweet peppers (capsicums) stewed in a pan with garlic, onions and tomato sauce. This is a typical Southern Italian recipe, originally from Sicily, Calabria and Campania. But, it is eaten in many other parts of the Italian peninsula.
Peperonata is traditionally a summer dish, since sweet peppers are in season in Italy from June to September. Like many Southern Italian recipes, this is a simple uncomplicated dish made with seasonal ingredients that have bold flavours brought out by the way they are cooked. Many Italians prefer to eat peperonata cold and, as is often the case with stewed dishes, it is even better eaten the next day.
Italians eat peperonata as a side dish with both meat and fish, but also on bruschetta or on pasta, like in this casarecce pasta all peperonata. I think eating it with pasta is my favourite way to have it!
Shopping for ingredients.
When buying peppers for this pasta alla peperonata choose medium-sized and firm ones. They are usually sweeter. Also, look out for the orange ones. Those are the sweetest of all. Some people include green peppers but, I prefer the red, yellow and orange ones. You can also just use red ones. In addition, if you can find them, use Tropea red onions from Calabria. These are more delicate than other onions. If not, red onions are best or shallots.
This casarecce pasta alla peperonata is made with a classic peperonata. This is a very simple and reasonably fast sauce. However, simple and fast doesn’t mean bland. This is really tasty! Every region, or even every town, in Southern Italy has its own recipe for stewed sweet peppers. For example, one version in some areas of Sicily includes breadcrumbs, which are added just before the sauce is ready.
The Pasta.
I served this pasta alla peperonata with dried casarecce pasta from Gragnano. You can also use fresh or homemade casarecce pasta too.
Casarecce is a traditional short pasta originally from Sicily but popular throughout Southern Italy. They're short pasta noodles with curled edges and a groove down the middle. They look a bit like little rolled up scrolls.
You can read more about this pasta on my casarecce post. I used this particular pasta because it’s typical Southern Italian and goes really well with the sweet pepper sauce. In fact, I think this is one of the best casarecce pasta recipes I know! However, you can use any type of pasta. I would recommend short pasta like penne, cavatelli, orecchiette or rigatoni.
Making pasta alla peperonata.
Making casarecce pasta alla peperonata is simple. Just gently fry the onions, garlic and pepper strips until they start to soften. Then add tomatoes and passata and a little wine vinegar and simmer covered for about 30 minutes until the peppers are really soft and everything has come together in a rich stew. While the peppers are cooking you can boil the water for the pasta and cook it. Add the drained pasta to the ready sauce and serve with grated cheese and some parsley or basil if you like.
If you do try this casarecce alla peperonata recipe, I’d love to hear what you think. Please write a comment here on the blog or post a comment on the Pasta Project Facebook page.
Your feedback means a lot to me!
Buon Appetito!
Foodie Travel Tip!
In Italian, sweet peppers (bell peppers/capsicums) are called peperoni (with one ‘p’!). When on holiday in Italy, many non-Italians make the mistake of ordering pizza con peperoni, expecting pepperoni (spicy sausage). Here, spicy sausage/salami isn’t known as pepperoni. If you want spicy salami or sausage in Italy, ask for salame piccante, salamino piccante or salsiccia Napoletana piccante. (piccante means spicy/hot)
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Casarecce Pasta alla Peperonata (sweet pepper sauce)
Ingredients
- 400 g casarecce pasta (14oz)
- 2 red sweet peppers (bell peppers/capsicums)
- 2 yellow sweet peppers
- 2 orange sweet peppers
- 2 garlic cloves peeled
- 2 red onions preferably from Tropea. Peeled and sliced
- 1 handful cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 300 g tomato passata (10 oz) I use Cirio or Mutti rustica
- 1 bay leaf
- 3-4 tablespoon extra virgin oilve oil
- 1 tablespoon wine vinegar
- salt for pasta and to taste
- black pepper to taste
- fresh basil or parsley as required
- grated grana or Parmigiano Reggiano as required
Instructions
- Wash and dry the peppers well,. Cut them in half lengthwise and remove the stalk with seeds and internal white filaments. Cut the peppers into smallish strips.
- Wash the cherry tomatoes, dry them and cut them in half. Peel the onions and slice (not too finely). Peel the garlic.
- Put the extra virgin olive oil into a deep frying pan or skillet and add the onions , garlic cloves and peppers. Cook over a medium heat until all the ingredients start to soften. Stir often.
- Add the tomato passata, the cherry tomatoes, the bay leaf and wine vinegar, plus salt to taste. Mix everything together well and cook covered for 30-40 minutes over a low to medium heat. Stir occasionally. (some Italians cook it for longer but as a pasta sauce I think 40 minutes is more than enough)
- While the pepper sauce is cooking, put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta. Add salt once it starts to boil and bring to the boil again. Cook the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the packet. Before draining the pasta save a cup of the cooking water.
- Remove the bay leaf from the sauce. Add the drained pasta to the peperonata and mix together well. If the sauce seems dry add some of the pasta cooking water.
- Serve immediately with a sprinkling of ground black pepper, chopped basil or parsley and grated cheese (if required)
Notes
Nutrition
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Eva says
Love me a good peperonata! Definitely the star of many Italian summers. I prefer it cold, and for some reason I am so used to seeing it as a side dish that I never served it with pasta! Definitely have to make it up for this. Pasta alla peperonata is going straight to my list of recipes I want to make after the next shopping haul!
Bernice Hill says
This is such a simple summertime pleasure. I can't wait until my cherry tomatoes are producing...this is the first recipe I'll make!
Casaecce is one pasta form i don't eat often but I would think it is perfect for this sauce. Could I make the sauce, add it to the pasta and eat it cold the next day?
Jacqui says
Hi Bernice, thanks for your comment. You can definitely eat the pasta and sauce mixed together the next day. In fact, I think it tastes even better!
Kelly Anthony says
You've done it again with this casarecce pasta alla peperonata. I love your foodie tip. I'm sure I would of made this mistake but now I know.
John M Ganovsky says
Looks amazing, one question, do you reduce the temperature after adding the tomatoes and passada, or do you keep cooking at medium heat?
Jacqui says
Hi John, thanks for your comment. You can reduce the heat somewhat whilst simmering the tomatoes and peppers. I have adjusted the recipe instructions accordingly to say low to medium. I'm sure you'll enjoy this dish!
Maman de sara says
This sweet pepper sauce sounds delicious, I can just eat it with French bread , thanks for sharing!
Cheese Curd In Paradise says
All those yummy peppers in one pasta! That sounds so good! I love peppers in pasta and they give an awesome texture- can't wait to try.
Jacqui says
Thank you so much! The peppers really have such a good flavour and go so well with pasta! I'm sure you'll love this dish!
Mimi says
When someone says pasta, I imagine a whole universe of options - thanks to your blog! I mean how many types of pasta are there?! My only wish is that you never stop because this Casarecce Pasta is just unbelievable!
Jacqui says
Aww thanks so much Mimi, There are hundreds of different types of pasta here in Italy. Some say over 360 others think more than 400! So, tons more typea of pasta to post about and lots of delicious recipes for them!
April says
I love how you put a special focus on the sauce just as much you do on pasta. I have always believed that sauces make the dish + it is incredibly interesting to find out the background of each sauce (and pasta) in each of your recipes. Fantastic post!
Jacqui says
Thanks so much dear April! I'm thrilled you like my recipes and the info I include! I love learning about and trying these pasta dishes and sharing them with others!