I'm a big fan of simplicity, in both a culinary sense and as a life choice. Unfortunately though, as a result of technicalities such as having to earn a living, pay taxes, plan for the future etc etc the latter is rarely possible. In the kitchen though, it's a different matter - anyone, regardless of emotional, mental or psychological clutter, can achieve culinary simplicity by using good quality, fresh ingredients and cooking them in the least complex way possible. This seemed to be the thinking behind this latest pasta meal I would be cooking.
By definition, none of the 15 minute meals are exactly complicated, but this was the first one I would be cooking which actually described itself as simple. The last couple of meals I've cooked haven't quite hit the spot because of fiddly cooking techniques or controversial ingredient combinations so I was quite looking forward to going back to basics and Lolz I think was particularly hopeful that the simplicity would translate into less washing up.
Unfortunately it did not work out quite as planned. First of all, the pasta ingredients, except for the actual spaghetti, are all cooked in a roasting tray on the hob. Maybe it's something to do with my equipment, but the roasting tray I have does not take kindly to cooking on the hob - it spits and it burns and generally looks extremely angry. The slicing of the tenderstem broccoli is also extremely laborious (but necessary so that they are sufficiently cooked) and by the time they are ready to go in the evil roasting tray the ingredients already in there, unless you have been extremely careful, will have been destroyed. Thankfully, as something of a 15 minute meal veteran now, I managed to rescue them in time. The "creamy curd salad" is also a bit bizarre. Some nice fresh tomatoes with basil, balsamic vinegar and olive oil would have been a great accompaniment, but the addition of cottage cheese (and an excessive amount of lemon) means it crosses the line into weird.
The spaghetti was actually quite nice and I could appreciate the simplicity of the flavours. With a few changes to the recipe it's something I'm sure I'd cook again, but all in all we couldn't help feeling a little short changed as we've come to expect a little more from our 15 minute meals. Simple is great but is a bowl of spaghetti with broccoli, chilli, anchovies, garlic, rosemary and parmesan really worthy of a place in the book? For me it's the kind of thing you'd throw together with whatever you have in your fridge when you've forgotten to do the shopping. With this, and the weird salad, in mind, Lolz gave the dish 6/10. Difficulty rating 4/10 (it would be much easier with a few tweaks to the recipe).
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