Out on the red carpet, celebrities look downright glamorous in their couture gowns and designer suits, but in the comfort of their own homes, as the old saying goes, “they’re just like us” and so many of them love to chow down on pasta. (We can relate.) It’s a classic case of the innie and outie of a famous person. And no one understands both the innie outie concept and good pasta better than actor John Turturro.
The acclaimed indie movie actor, and star of Severance on Apple TV+, shared his go-to pasta recipe and it’s surprisingly simple. Here’s what you need to know to make this easy dinner in your kitchen.
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The Italian Recipe John Turturro Enjoys at Home
John Turturro, who plays the no-nonsense and enigmatic Irving Bailiff on Severance, credits his Southern Italian heritage and his Brooklyn roots for his cooking knowledge and passion. And one dish in particular may be how he and his family create connection and joy right in their home kitchen.
In a 2011 interview with TheWall Street Journal, Turturro shared how he makes his go-to classic Italian dish: spaghetti con pomodoro crudo. “It’s a simple peasant dish,” Turturro explains to WSJ. This dish, which translates to spaghetti with fresh tomatoes, is typically made with raw tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic and olive oil. The ingredients are marinated together before they get tossed with hot pasta, which helps release the aroma and flavor of the no-cook sauce.
“You can use all kinds of tomatoes,” Turturro says. (He likes to make the dish with a mix of red and yellow tomatoes.) Peak summer tomato season will be here before we know it, so keep this dish in mind as the weather warms up. You can also try it now using cherry tomatoes, which are pretty great year-round.
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How to Make John Turturro’s Spaghetti Con Pomodoro Crudo
To make John Turturro’s take on spaghetti con pomodoro crudo, mix chopped ripe tomatoes with finely chopped garlic, fresh basil, olive oil, salt and pepper. Let the mixture marinate for a few minutes so that the flavors have time to meld. Meanwhile, cook spaghetti to al dente according to package directions. Toss the hot pasta with the raw tomato sauce and serve the dish warm or at room temperature.
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This pasta is delicious on its own, but the tomato sauce would also be great spooned on top of toasts for an easy appetizer, added to a cheese pizza or scrambled eggs or tucked into an omelet.
For a more substantial dinner, serve the pasta with garlic bread, roasted eggplant or zucchini, or add a protein. We’re thinking Christopher Walken’s scallops would be a great match. See, Irving and Burt can be together in the outside world!
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