Italian food captivates with its simplicity and wonderful flavors. Sage butter pasta is a great example of how you can bring the taste of Italy to your plate in an instant.
The heart of Italian cuisine lies in simple yet quality ingredients that create genuinely delicious home cooking. In Italian food culture, wine isn't just a drink reserved for special occasions—it's an essential part of everyday meals. Even a simple dish rises to a new level when paired with a carefully selected wine.
One of the classics of Italian cuisine is sage butter pasta. This dish combines the richness of butter with the refined aromas of sage, offering a perfect balance of flavors. When you finish the meal with a quality Italian wine, you create a complete taste experience that captures Italian culinary tradition at its best.
Delicious Sage Butter Pasta
- About 300 g pasta
- 50 g butter
- 2 garlic cloves
- A pot of sage
- 1-2 dl pasta cooking water
- Zest of 1/2 lemon, grated
- Salt
- Pepper
- Plenty of grated Parmesan
Preparation:
1. Cook the pasta in generously salted water until al dente. When there's enough salt, you won't need to add more to the dish later. Remember to save a couple of deciliters of pasta cooking water!
2. Melt and brown the butter in a pan. Add the sage and minced garlic cloves. Be careful not to let the garlic burn.
3. Add the grated lemon zest and 1-2 dl of pasta cooking water. Stir until the sauce becomes slightly creamy.
4. Pour the drained pasta into the pan.
5. Add plenty of grated Parmesan and, if desired, a bit of black pepper.
You don't need to follow the recipe slavishly. You can leave out the garlic or lemon if you prefer. The most important thing is that the butter browns nicely and the garlic doesn't burn.
The recipe for Viikon Viini was created by Sanna Koivisto.
You can complete the Italian atmosphere with a cheese board featuring, for example, pecorino, soft mozzarella, homemade pesto, tomatoes, jam, nuts, olives, Parma ham, fresh baguette, and grissini.
What Wine to Pair with Pasta?
A quality Italian wine pairs perfectly with pasta. Casa Charlize's white Cuvée Alba and red Cuvée Forte are excellent choices, especially with cheesy pasta dishes. Cuvée Alba brings freshness and fruitiness that balances the creaminess of the pasta, and Cuvée Forte offers depth and richness that complements the flavors of stronger cheeses.
