Pasta Capricciosa (Pasta with Capers and Mint)

Serves 6

1/3 cup capers, rinsed
3 or 4 garlic cloves
3/4 fresh mint leaves
2 cups plain tomato sauce
1/2 cup cream
1 and 1/4 pounds rigatoni, cookedand drained
grated parmesan cheese.

Place the capers, garlic, and mint leaves together on board a or in a chopping bowl
and chop them fine.
Add to the heated tomato sauce.
Simmer for 5 minutes, then add the cream.
Simmer without boiling, stirring constantly, for 1 minute, until well assimilated.
Pour over pasta and serve with grated parmesan.
In the heat of summer 1 often forgo the cream, and find the result to be every bit as good.


Copyright: Mary Taylor Simeti, "POMP AND SUSTENANCE, TWENTY FIVE CENTURIES OF SICILIAN FOOD" Knopf, NY 1989