Seafood Spaghetti

Name: Seafood Spaghetti
Cook time: 1 1/4 hr
Total time: 1 1/4 hr (2 1/2 hr if not using a pressure cooker)
Yield: Makes 6 servings
Ingredients: 2 pound cleaned frozen octopus, thawed and rinsed; 2 cups water; 1 Turkish or 1/2 California bay leaf; 1 (14- to 15-ounce) can whole tomatoes in juice, drained, reserving juice, and coarsely chopped; 2 tablespoons chopped basil; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 3/4 cup packed basil leaves; 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened; 1 pound spaghetti; 6 garlic cloves; 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 1 pound large shrimp in shell, peeled, leaving tail fan attached, and deveined; 3/4 pound cultivated mussels, rinsed; 3/4 pound baby squid, cleaned, bodies cut into 1/4-inch rounds, and tentacles left whole; Equipment: a pressure cooker

Espagueti Frutos del Mar Hearty with shrimp, mussels, squid, and octopus, this flavor-packed pasta dish gets an extra boost from a bright basil purée drizzled on before serving. True, there's some effort involved in making it, but you can prepare the various elements in stages, and the drama and deliciousness of the result will more than compensate your efforts.

By Paul Richardson

November 16, 2007

Image may contain Food Meal Dish Spaghetti Pasta Noodle and Pizza

Seafood SpaghettiDitte Isager

Cook's notes:

· If you do not have a pressure cooker, octopus can be simmered in a 4-quart pot with bay leaf, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 4 cups water, covered, turning occasionally, until tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. · Octopus can be cooked 1 day ahead and chilled, uncovered, until cool, then covered. · Tomato sauce can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

Recipe notes

Smothered Italian Sausage

This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.

Salmon With Sizzled Nut Salsa

A savory-hot salsa made with mixed nuts (like the kind dubbed cocktail nuts meant for snacking) gives roast salmon a kaleidoscope of textures and flavors.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

White Bean Turkey Chili

A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.

One-Pot Chicken Thighs With Cilantro Rice and Beans

This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Dulce de Leche

Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.

Golden Mushroom Soup With Orzo & a Pat of Butter

This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.