Sure, sure, you’ve cooked with red wine before. A splish-splash here, a half a cup there. We’ve all done it. But have you ever made pasta using two entire bottles of red wine?! I didn’t think so. I have. And I think you’re gonna wanna give it a shot.
It’s a showstopper. Two bottles of red wine get cooked down to a glossy mahogany butter sauce that stains the spaghetti in addition to flavoring it. Use a very dry red wine that you enjoy drinking, such as a Sangiovese-based wine like Chianti, or Merlot, otherwise the dish will be too sweet. If this is sounding like “eating red wine” to you, don’t worry, it tastes like wine in the way beef bourguignon does, and is acidic yet creamy like our beloved pasta al limone.
Ingredients
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12 garlic cloves, finely chopped
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3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
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1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
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16 Tbsp. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1″ pieces, divided
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2 750-ml bottles red wine
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Kosher salt
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2 lb. spaghetti
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Finely grated Parmesan (for serving)
Instructions
- Combine garlic and 3 Tbsp. oil in a small bowl. Heat a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium; pour in garlic and oil. Add red pepper flakes and 2 Tbsp. butter; cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is very fragrant but not browned, about 3 minutes. Add wine, increase heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered, until reduced by two-thirds, 20–25 minutes; season with salt. Cover and keep warm.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta in a pot of salted boiling water, stirring occasionally, until very al dente, about 3 minutes shy of recommended cook time.
- Drain pasta and add to sauce, along with remaining 14 Tbsp. butter. Set pot over medium heat and bring sauce to a simmer. Cook, tossing often, until pasta is well coated and sauce is thickened, about 3 minutes. Taste and season with more salt if needed.
- Divide pasta among bowls; drizzle with oil and top with lots of Parmesan.
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