Garlic Pasta

Happy New Year, people.

After spent almost two bloody hours in the cold watching the Big Blue Man walking from the Holyrood Park to High street, I craved for something warm. I tried Starbucks but the que was just unbelievable so I went to use their toilet instead (hey, since I'm in Starbucks might as well warmed up). We passed several people eating chips (with vinegar by the smell of it) and thought, why not, but guess what the waiting line for the chippy was freakishly long. And no, it's not because it's the best chippy in Edinburgh it's just because it's the only one open in New Year's day. Crap.

So we're hungy, cold and dissapointed by the entertainment provided by Edinburgh Tourism. I'm not writing here to complaint about Edinburgh Tourism Board's lack of creativity so I'm going to take a deep breath and just let it go. Back to my belly - we need something. He said, we can go home and cook something. Don't take me wrong, I love cooking but the thing is I ran out salt (like at all) and since it's New Year's day every single shop around our house is shut. And trust me I've tried cooking with salt, challenging as it is it's duable with soya sauce and fish sauce as substitutes, however, I seriously don't feel like eating Asian food. I want proper scottish food! Pie or Stew!

So we went on a Salt Hunt. We tried every open shop on Highstreet and North Bridge. Just when we were about to give up, we saw the light on Jordan Valley Wholefoods store on Nicolson Street. I know they won't sell my normal coarse sea salt but hey, any salt is better no salt. So I went in and asked the guy behind the counter if he has coarse sea salt, he said unfortunatelly he ran out of normal sea salt but he did have a slightly more expensive coarse salt. He pointed towards some white pinkish crystals stuff in clear jars, I said that can't be salt, it's pink. He told me it's a Himalayan Rock Salt and it costs £4.20 for 500grms. I said no way I'm paying that much for salt, I don't care where it comes from. He said understandable as he wouldn't buy it himself - Ha! I went for small packages of Garlic salt and Lemon salt, at least it'd save me chopping up some  garlic tonight.

At home, the idea of making steak pie evaporated by my lazyness in kneeling dough so I thought stew it is. Just a couple of minutes after slicing my lean steak, my belly rumbled and I realized that my belly ain't going to last long enough for stew.

I need something quick! Since my fridge is practically empty and there's no stores open, it has to be something very practical and what can be more practical than pasta? (get some chips you numpty) Since I already sliced the beef I might as well use it. I've got no basil nor cheese but I do have a bottle of passata infused with garlic and garlic salt. Since I'm off tomorrow, why not binge on Garlic it's healthy and keep unwanted vampires at bay.

So here it is my Linguini with Tomato and Garlic Sauce

Ingredients:
200 grms Linguini
350 grms of Passata infused with garlic
200 grams of lean steak, cut in bite pieces
1 onion, diced.
2 chilies, sliced with seeds.
2 spring onion, chopped finely
1 ts of garlic salt
1 ts of cayenne pepper (optional)
black pepper
a cup of brocolli (just because it's the only I have in my fridge, feel free to use other veggie)

• Cook your linguini per instruction
• Heat oil in a skillet, brown the steaks (but don't cook it all the way) and then add onions and spring onions. Cook over medium heat for 3 minutes or until golden.
  
• Add the rest of ingredients (I added a cup of water just because I like the sauce not so thick)
  
• Stir the mixture and bring to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes, or until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly .
• Serve over pasta 

The dish is so delicious it makes me wonder, why? This is not my first pasta sauce using just garlic for flavour but how come it tastes sooooo different. After (literally) checking all my ingredients I realized the key is my new garlic salt for Jordan Valley. What ever they put in it, it definitely helps.

You think I should go back and buy more?

Happy New Year People.