Harissa Spaghettini Recipe

Serves about 4 - 6.

you can substitute any whole whole pasta, really. Cut the kale into big bite-sized pieces. Harissa can be found in many ethic food sections, I get mine at Tissa's Le Souk Du Marok http://www.tissascountrymarket.com/

or you can make it yourself http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-saucier26sep26,1,5865067.story?coll=la-headlines-food

3 medium cloves garlic, peeled


a big pinch of fine grain sea salt


1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil


2 tablespoons harissa paste (all harissa is not equally spicy so use your best judgement)

8 oz (1/2lb) whole wheat spaghettini


1 small bunch kale, washed and deveined


1/2 cup oil-cured black olives, pitted


1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted


zest of 1 lemon

Bring a big pot of water to a boil. In the meantime, place the cloves of garlic on a cutting board and sprinkle then with a big pinch of salt. Crush with the flat side of a knife. Now crush and chop, crush and chop until you have a garlic paste. Alternately, you can use a mortar and pestle. In a small bowl whisk together the garlic paste, harissa, and olive oil. Set aside.

Generously salt the boiling water, add the pasta, and cook per package instructions. Just before the pasta is done add the kale to the pasta water, count to six, drain and set aside. Heat half of the harissa dressing in the now empty pasta pot Add the pasta and kale, black olives, pine nuts, and lemon zest. Stir over the heat for a minute or so, then turn everything out onto a platter and drizzle with the remaining harissa olive oil.