Strozzapreti with Lent Sauce

To prepare a delicious strozzapreti dish, the first step is to focus on the dough. In a large bowl, gradually add water, being careful not to add too much at once. Ideally, we should start with a moderate amount and add flour until we obtain an elastic dough that does not stick to our hands or the work surface. It is important to knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and homogeneous. Once we have achieved the desired texture, we roll the dough out into a thin sheet, about 2 mm thick. Using a knife or a cutting wheel, we cut wide strips of 1.5-2 cm, and then each strip into pieces of about 5 cm.

Each piece is gently rolled between our fingers to give it the specific shape, which should resemble a twisted towel. After finishing shaping the strozzapreti, we wrap each piece in a cloth napkin dusted with flour, being careful to leave enough space between them to prevent sticking. We let the strozzapreti dry while we prepare the delicious sauce.

For the sauce, we start by heating 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a deep pan. We add ½ bell pepper, cut into larger cubes, and ½ eggplant, which we cut into quarters lengthwise and then slice into pieces of about 0.5 cm. We also add a small zucchini, sliced into rounds, and for those who prefer, onion or garlic can be added for extra flavor. The vegetables are sautéed together until they become slightly soft. Finally, we splash in a bit of white wine, and when the alcohol has evaporated, we add a glass of tomato juice or tomato paste, along with a little water. I recommend adding two tablespoons of milk to give the sauce a pleasant creaminess. We let the sauce reduce, stirring occasionally, and at the end, we add pitted green olives, sliced into rounds.

Meanwhile, we boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water for about 5 minutes, but it is important to taste them to ensure they are al dente. Once cooked, it is ideal to remove the strozzapreti from the water and add them directly to the pan with the sauce, letting them simmer together for a minute, so they absorb the flavors well. This dish is perfect for a family dinner, full of flavor and color!