Conchiglie ai Wűrster...
My Father read the posting about Filippo and Anne-Marie's lasagna and said that we should share some of the great Italian recipes we learned in Italy. He's right because Italian food is amazing! So, here's one for the entire family. (I originally thought this to be a children's dish but adults enjoy it just as much.) It's called Conchiglie ai Wűrster which means, shell pasta with hot dog sauce.Ingredients:
- 2 lbs shell pasta (medium shells)
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 2 TBL olive oil
- 2 TBL butter
- 8 oz bacon/Italian pancetta (diced)
- 1lb hot dog (sliced)
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 15 oz can peeled diced tomatoes (barely blended)
- 3 cloves garlic (whole)
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1 tsp whole milk
- 1 cup romano cheese
- Boil water for pasta (include 2 TBL salt and 1 TBL olive oil in water) and cook pasta al dente (not soft). Drain water and set aside.
- Sautè onion in oil and 1 TBL butter in a large skillet over medium heat until golden (not brown).
- Add bacon and cook an additional 5 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Add hot dog, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, garlic, crushed red pepper, salt (to taste), and cook covered for 30 minutes over low heat stirring occasionally.
- Remove cover, add milk, 1 TBL butter, and cook an additional 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Remove garlic, add pasta, and stir until well combined. Transfer to serving plate and sprinkle with romano cheese. Buon Appetito!
- I prefer Hebrew Nationals all beef hot dogs for this dish.
- Italian pancetta and American bacon are not the same. If you can't get pancetta, buy thick cut bacon (non smoked).
- If the sauce becomes too pasty (dry) then add 1 cup of water (used to boil the pasta).
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