CYPRUS: Spicy Shrimp, Tomato, and Anise Pasta (Garidomakaronada) with Cypriot Salad

I could not stop eating this. I kept saying to myself, "Just one more tiny serving," then having yet another and another. One of those dishes where the end result is so much greater than the sum of the parts.

We used the full teaspoon of red pepper, which was perfect for my husband (I like a ton of heat, so he is a better gauge). One daughter loved, the other at home said it was too spicy.

(And for those who have not tried Rummo GF — on Reddit a user wrote, "I am so happy about this pasta. I could cry." It has almost 900 upvotes in the affirmative. It is hands down the best GF pasta out there. Not even up for debate.)

Spicy Shrimp, Tomato, and Anise Pasta (Garidomakaronada)

1 lb large or XL shrimp, head on is most authentic, but tail on in great as well

½ lemon

12 oz dried spaghetti or linguini

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium yellow onion

½ small bulb fennel

2 garlic cloves

1 teaspoon fennel seeds, optional

½-1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

1 tablespoons tomato paste

¼ cup Ouzo or Sambuca*

2 cups cherry or grape tomatos

3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

*Ouzo is traditional, but harder to find in small bottles. Sambuca has a similar licorice/anise flavor profile, although some additional sugars. It is much easier to find in nip-size or small bottles, thus a god substitute.

1. Peel the shrimp if they are not already, leaving either the head or tail on, if possible. Squeeze the lemon overtop and season with salt and pepper.

2. Place a large pot of salted water over high heat. While waiting for it to boil, start on sauce, add the spaghetti or linguini to the water when it boils. Cook pasta per the package directions.

3. Cut the onion in half from root to tip, peel off the outer layer, then cut off the tip, leaving the root intact. Cut a slit from the tip, stopping just short of the root, then slice thinly. This should leave you with quarter-circle slices. Repeat with remaining half of the onion.

4. If the ½ fennel bulb has stalks, cut them off, saving for a later used if you wish, then slice the bulb thinly. You should end up with slices similar in size as the onions.

5. In a sauté pan, add the 3 tablespoons olive oil and put on high heat. Once hot, add the shrimp. Cook for about 30 seconds, flip over, cook another 30 seconds, and use a slotted spoon to remove and set to the side.

6. Add the onion and fennel to the sauté pan. Reduce heat to medium and cook about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes. Add the fennel seed (If using), chili flakes, tomato paste, and Ouzo or Sambuca. Cook, stirring consistently, for 3 additional minutes.

7. Add the tomatoes and ½ cup of water. Cook about 5 minutes, stirring. Add the shrimp and 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley, and cook an additional 2-3 minutes, until the shrimp are cooking through and the sauce becomes glossy and thick. Add a few tablespoons of water if it becomes too thick.

8. By this stage, the pasta should be al dente. Strain the pasta and add it to the saucepan to soak up all sauce flavors. Garnish with remaining parsley and serve.

Cypriot Salad

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

½ teaspoon dried oregano

¼ teaspoon table salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

1 head Romaine lettuce

2 medium tomatoes or ~16 cherry or grape tomatoes

2 medium Persian cucumbers

1 cup pitted Greek black olives

More salt and black pepper, to taste

1. In a small jar with a lid, add the vinegar, oil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Shake vigorously.

2. Clean and rip or cut Romaine into bite-sized pieces. Place in a large salad bowl.

3. Core and chop large tomatoes or halve cherry or grape tomatoes. Cut the cucumbers lengthwise into quarters, then cop into bite-size pieces. Add tomatoes and cucumbers to salad bowl.

4. Add drained olives. Pour about two-thirds of the dressing overtop. Taste and add more dressing, salt, and/or pepper to taste.

#seafoodpasta #shrimppasta #garidomakaronada #cyprus

FUN FACTS:

• In the northern part of the island, the Turkish Cypriots drew a giant flag in the mountains that can be seen on Google maps. Exact coordinates: 35.282902, 33.376891.

• Cyprus is the only place outside the UK to host a British royal wedding. This was the marriage of King Richard and Queen John on May 12, 1191.

• In Cyprus, it is forbidden to eat or drink while driving.