Food 'N Flix: Eat. Pray. Love. {Spaghetti al Pomodoro}




For Food 'n Flix this month (January), hosted by The Law Student's Cookbook, the movie was Eat. Pray. Love.



For me, this was all the excuse I needed to finally finish watching this movie in its entirety.  I started to watch it when it was released here on DVD, but just when Julia Robert's character was arriving in India, company came over.  I don't remember what else happened that day, but for some reason I never finished the movie.

I love a good chick flick.  I'm a huge Julia Roberts fan.  And this movie was directed by Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy.  (I ♥ Glee!)  On paper, this should have been the perfect movie for me.  But the truth is, and I hope you won't hold it against me, I wasn't crazy about this movie.  (I wasn't all that crazy about the book either.)

Don't get me wrong.  There were parts I loved.  Hello, Javier Bardem!  But my favorite part was the whole Italy experience.  I would love to visit Italy.  Even though I'm pretty sure I'd never want to leave.  I'd love to learn the language.  But most of all, I would love to surround myself with all of that glorious food.  Aside from Mexican food, it's one of my all-time favorite cuisines.

That's why, before I even sat down to watch the movie, I headed into the kitchen to prepare a simple, yet absolutely satisfying Spaghetti al Pomodoro.  Pomodoro is the Italian word for tomato.  So this dish is really just spaghetti in a simple tomato sauce.  But it sounds so much nicer in Italian.  And I'm pretty sure it's what Julia Roberts is eating in the  trailer above. (1:48)

If you like dinner and a movie, then you should join us for Food 'n Flix next month, hosted by Deb at Kahakai Kitchen.  The movie is one of my favorites...My Big Fat Greek Wedding!

Spaghetti al Pomodoro 1

Spaghetti al Pomodoro

Ingredients:
  • 6 to 8 oz. spaghetti  (I used 200gr.) 
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 
  • 6 Roma tomatoes
  • 1/2 medium onion (optional) 
  • 1 to 2 cloves garlic
  • Fresh basil
  • Red Pepper flakes

Directions:
Cook the spaghetti according to package directions in a pot of boiling water.  While the spaghetti is cooking, chop the tomatoes, onion and garlic.

Chopped Tomatoes


Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  (I used my Chile de Arbol Olive Oil for extra flavor.)  Stir in the chopped tomatoes, onion and garlic; season with salt and pepper.  Traditional Pomodoro sauce doesn't include onions.  But I love the added flavor and texture they bring to the dish.

Eat Pray Love Spaghetti Sauce Prep 1


Reduce heat to low and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are completely cooked.  At this point, you can puree the sauce with an immersion blender OR if you're like me and you like a chunky sauce with bits of tomato, just mash the tomatoes with the back of a large serving spoon.

Eat Pray Love Spaghetti Prep 2

Drain the spaghetti, reserving a little of the cooking water in case your tomato sauce is too thick.  Toss the spaghetti with the sauce.  Season with salt (if needed) and red pepper flakes.

Eat Pray Love Spaghetti Prep 3


Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.  Enjoy!!!

Spaghetti al Pomodoro 2

*I apologize for some of the bright pictures.  I'm still adjusting to working with the new light fixture in my kitchen and I was forced to use my camera's flash. I am just so happy to have electricity once again!  

Photobucket

Sharing this post with:
Food‘nFlix   La Cocina de Leslie





10 comments

  1. This looks delicious. I'm glad you had time to get in on the first Food n Flix of the year!

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  2. I would love to slurp up a big bowl of your Spaghetti Pomodoro! You know my thoughts on the movie, so I won't comment on that, but I will say this is a lovely dish fabulously inspired by our flick this month :D

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  3. That movie was fantastic, my favorite was her trip to India, just beautiful:-) Actually that movie is why I fell in love with yoga and meditation! Your spaghetti sounds and looks delicious:-) Hugs, Terra

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  4. I have to agree with you about the movie and the book, though I liked the book better. This recipe for Spaghetti Pomodoro, however, will never go amiss!

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  5. I wasn't thrilled with the movie either, except for the footage of Italy and all the food! Spaghetti al Pomodoro is one of my favorite dishes of all time, and what a perfect choice to go with this movie.

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  6. I liked the Italy part of the movie the best also. I've read Dean Martin used to have Spaghetti al Pomodoro and broiled fish every night...along with some Scotch.

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    Replies
    1. I knew there was a reason why I like Dean Martin so much! :)

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  7. I like adding homemade chorizo in it to but either way sooo good :)

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  8. Love your blog. Watched the movie again last night and was inspired to cook one of the Italian dishes. I could watch this movie endlessly...Italy scenes and Javier are my favorite. :)

    Thank you for sharing.

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  9. I love your blog so much!!! I was born in Texas and raised in Michoacan until i was 17, then moved back to texas, but my mexican cooking is not that good, i have learned so much from you. I'm horrible at making salsa, whether they be salsa roja or salsa verde, i usually just buy them at the store. i would love some recipes for that!

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