Farfalle with Fresh Tomatoes, Wine, Olives & Golden Raisins

[kirra]

Farfalle with Fresh Tomatoes, Wine, Olives & Golden Raisins

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 cup julienned red onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 cups peeled, seeded, and diced tomatoes
3/4 cup sliced olives, such as kalamata
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons drained capers
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 pound farfalle or other dry pasta
1/4 cup freshly chopped basil leaves
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese, for garnish

Preparation:

Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan and cook the onions and garlic until very tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes, olives, raisins, white wine, capers, and crushed red pepper flakes and cook until the tomatoes have broken down slightly and the sauce is slightly thickened,7 to 10 minutes. Add kosher salt and black pepper, to taste, and set aside to keep warm.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions until just al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, and place the pasta in a large mixing bowl along with the hot pasta sauce and the basil. Toss to combine, adding pasta cooking water 1 or 2 tablespoons at a time to thin the sauce, if necessary. Serve the pasta in shallow bowls, drizzled with the remaining olive oil and garnished with the feta cheese. Yield: 4 to 6 servings