Olive Pasta

 

Ingredients
  

  • 7-10 oz. Jar Garlic stuffed Green Olives
  • 3 T. Butter
  • ¼ c. Cashew halves
  • 1 whole Lemon
  • 4 large Cloves Garlic
  • 16 oz. Pasta such as Rigatoni
  • ¼ tsp. Black Pepper
  • Salt for cooking pasta
  • ¼ tsp. Dried Chili Flakes
  • 3 T. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • ¼-½ c. Parmesan Cheese freshly grated

Instructions
 

  • Half (or quarter) the Green Olives, trying to separate out some/most of the garlic; set aside.
  • Zest the lemon; set aside.
  • Peel and finely chop the garlic; set aside.
  • Add the pasta to well-salted boiling water & cook until al dente. Don't drain.
  • While the pasta is cooking, place the cashew halves in a DRY heavy skillet over medium heat. Shake frequently until they begin to lightly brown. Careful! They burn quickly! Remove from the skillet and set aside.
  • Put the oil & butter in the skillet and fry the olives for 2-3 minutes until they begin to soften and blister.
  • Add the fresh chopped garlic, the garlic from the jar, chili flakes, pepper, and lemon zest. Fry for another minute - be careful that the garlic doesn't burn.
  • Turn heat to low.
  • Use a spider strainer to transfer the pasta straight from the pot into the pan.
  • Squeeze the lemon over the pasta then pour in about ½ cup of the pasta water.
  • Plate, then sprinkle lavishly with Parmesan.

Notes

We have it alongside a roasted chicken.