Marido Espagueti Especial...Weekend Special!!

Saludos Cordiales!
Had crazy fun this weekend at home! There was a tough competition between me and my husband in the kitchen and the judges were none other than our kids!

Aha! Weekends in Bangalore were great too! Family trips to the malls (kids favourite), followed by a compulsory visit to The MacDonald or KFC and then, if they permit, a quick lunch or dinner at some eating joint for the two of us poor souls. Or Home Delivery zindabad! Didn't experiment much with cooking there! 

But here at Kalimpong its a different story.Eating out is not an option as the restaurants shut down by 7:30 PM, when actually our party time starts! Unbelievable but true. So here, Saturdays are spent trying out new dishes with my husband with a couple of drinks in hand! and believe you me, it is better than anything else in this world, cause here time is a luxury! My only grudge is that he somehow manages to win over the smiles and adulation of my kids without really doing much in the kitchen!

Anyway! Today I'll share my Husband's Special Spaghetti preparation, that's quick, easy and...don't want to say it but...delicious!

Ingredients:

• Spaghetti
• Fresh bread crumbs
• Fresh Basil-1 bunch
• 1 onion - finely chopped
• 1 tsp crushed garlic
• 8 tomatoes - puréed
• 3 tbsps ready-made tomato purée (optional)
• 3 to 4 tbsps grated cheese
• 1 boiled egg (optional)
• 1 tsp chili flakes (or more)
• 2 tbsps oil (could be olive oil)
• Salt to taste.

Method:

• In a pan, roast bread crumbs and a few basil leaves till it turns brown and crisp. Keep aside.
• Boil spaghetti in salted water for 8 to 9 minutes or till Al Dante.

                   

• Heat oil in a pan and fry the chopped onions till slightly golden. 
• Add crushed garlic and sauté. 
• Add chili flakes and remaining basil leaves.
• Now add the chopped & puréed tomatoes (Not the ready-made one) and cook till the tomato purée is cooked well but still has a saucy consistency.
• Add the ready-made tomato purée now to make it more tangy. Again, this is purely optional. At this stage, add salt.

                 

• Now add the spaghetti and mix it well. Mix in grated cheese and cover the pan till the cheese melts and mixes well.
• When plating the spaghetti, sprinkle some extra cheese and the roasted basil and bread-crumbs mix on top for that extra crunch.

                 

• The Marido Espagueti Especial or Husband's Special Spaghetti is ready to be served with boiled egg - if you like!

                  

This is an easy recipe, which looks and tastes yummy and can be made by even those who are all thumbs in the kitchen. Trust me, I have one at home!