We Made Red Wine Spaghetti So You Don't Have To (We're Heroes Basically)

red wine pasta
kasandra brabaw

Here at Eat Clean, we're pretty damn adventurous when it comes to trying wacky new foods. Avocado ice cream? Yes, please! Chewable juice? Why not?! So when we heard about Food and Wine's viral video for red wine spaghetti, we were all over it. When a recipe gets 11 million views, it has to be good, right? So last week, I grabbed a few coworkers willing to be guinea pigs and gave it a whirl. 

kasandra brabaw

First thing's first—I didn't follow the recipe exactly. Why? Because it called for regular spaghetti made with refined white flour, and that's just not something we recommend. But when I couldn't find whole wheat pasta at my local grocery store, I followed the cashier's suggestion of brown rice pasta, which has a similar texture and taste to whole wheat—plus, it's totally gluten-free, meaning two of my gluten-intolerant coworkers could join in. 

MORE: The 9 Healthiest Pastas And How To Pick The Right One For You

kasandra brabaw

Next stop? Wine store. Here's the thing, I'm not exactly a drinker. I typically have one glass of hard cider at the bar on Friday nights—and that's because it doesn't taste like alcohol. Needless to say, I had no idea what I was looking for. Luckily, another friendly cashier was willing to help me out. When I told him I needed a dry, red wine (which fit the description of basically every red wine in the store) he gave me a grin and said he really couldn't tell me what to buy. But when I said, "I'm making spaghetti…with the wine," he perked up, walked to the back of the store, and pulled a bottle from the shelf. "Go with the cheap stuff," he said. "The alcohol will cook off and your spaghetti won't care what the wine tastes like." 

kasandra brabaw

So I bought a cheap bottle and headed home. For a dish that ends up looking so fancy, it's surprisingly simple to make. It requires very little chopping—just walnuts, parsley, and garlic—and takes only 15 minutes from start to finish. Plus, it's way more fun than cooking regular spaghetti since you get to watch the noodles turn purple as they cook. And the taste? Most definitely worth pouring (almost) a whole bottle of wine down your drain. The wine gave the noodles an earthy, not overly boozy taste. One of my guinea pigs even said it made the pasta look "exotic," like you're about to down a meal from a 5-star restaurant. 

If that isn't enough to make you try this out, think of the date night possibilities—it's simple enough that you won't get totally frustrated with your partner, yet still incredibly romantic, thanks to the wine. And with pasta, there's always the possibility of that super cute Lady and the Tramp moment.

Bottom Line: I would 100% make it again. 

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