Pasta with arugula and bayleaf

Whether you believe that there should be a day to recognize a special person- your mom today- or that such days-like mother's day today- are frivolous inventions for selling products, there is no denying that you love your special person. And few people are more special than mom :) Today's recipe is for any day that you feel like making your mom feel special. 

And I get in that mode all the time, especially now when the farmer's market bursting with asparagus, arugula, spring onions and all kinds of bitter greens and the spring flowering season is almost coming to and end- although this time the flowering was spectacular, really spectacular and on rainy days trees looked ethereal.

Pasta with arugula and bayleaf

(Inspired from Mark Bitman's recipe in NYTimes)

Recipe will feed two people

Ingredients 

1/2 lb pasta. Long cut e.g. Linguine.

6 cups of arugula 

3-5 cloves of garlic. Gently sliced

1 bay leaf. Fresh or dry

1/2 tsp of chili flakes.

Salt and pepper for seasoning

5 tbsf olive oil (a little more for drizzling)

Optional: Herbed salt 

Optional: A can of anchovies

Use either one. Not both. Both contribute salt.

Instructions

Step 1: Fill up a large pot with water and bring to a boil. When water comes to a rolling boil, add a generous amount (2 tbsf) of salt. Wait for the water to return to rolling boil, before dropping the pasta gently. Make sure you cook the pasta according to the package directions. Usually will be 8-10 minutes. Save 1/2 cup of pasta cooking liquid.  While the pasta is cooking proceed to step 2 to complete the sauce

Step 2: Warm the olive oil in a shallow skillet. Add the garlic, bayleaf, and the chili flakes. Cook till garlic is soft. Add the herbed salt or anchovies, if you are using any of those. I chose the herbed salt. If not using any optional items, just season with salt. Add the 1/2 cup saved pasta cooking liquid. 

Step 3: Drain the pasta and immediately transfer to the sauce (in the skillet). Toss gently till the pasta absorbs the sauce.

Step 4: While the pasta is soaking the sauce, prepare your pasta serving ware (a large bowl). Add the arugula (cleaned). Add the pasta to the arugula. Toss gently till the arugula wilts down and the pasta and arugula is well-mixed. 

Drizzle freshly cracked pepper and drizzle olive oil and serve soon!

To loving.