Go Back
Mr. Sam

Pasta Puttanesca

5 from 1 vote
Pasta Puttanesca is a bold and flavorful Italian dish, famous for its savory, tangy sauce made with a combination of simple yet robust ingredients.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 16 Ounces Angel Hair Pasta Any spaghetti type pasta can be used. I just prefer angel hair.
  • 2 Tbl Olive Oil
  • 1/2 Cup Red Onion Chopped
  • 1 28 Ounce Can Crushed Tomatoes
  • 1/2 Cup Chicken Broth
  • 1/2 Cup White Wine Preferably Dry
  • 1 Tbl Garlic Minced
  • 1 Tin Anchovies
  • 1 Cup Olives Pitted and assorted varieties. Sliced.
  • 12 Whole Basil Leaves
  • 3 Tbl Capers
  • 1 Tbl Oregano
  • 1 Tsp Crushed Red Pepper
  • 1/2 Cup Parsley Italian Flat Leaf Preferably
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • 1 Tsp Black Pepper
  • 3/4 Cup Fresh Arugula
  • 1/3 Cup Parmesan Cheese
  • 6 ONCES Tomato Paste

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add pasta and cook according to the directions on the package.
    pasta
  2. While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over a medium flame. Add the garlic and onion, and sauté until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the parsley, olives, capers, anchovy, oregano, salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper to the skillet, and sauté for 2 minutes more.
    anchovies
  3. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth and wine, and simmer for about 5 minutes. Stir in the arugula and basil, and simmer for 1 minute more, until the greens wilt slightly.
    crushed Tomatoes
  4. Turn down the heat and allow to simmer for about 15 minutes.
  5. Add pasta into sauce. Use 2 wooden spoons to toss the pasta, still on low heat on the stove, for 1 minute or until the sauce is no longer in the skillet but rather clinging to the pasta strands (but still slick and slippery). If the pasta gets too dry, add pasta cooking water and toss.
  6. Top with parmesan cheese and serve.
    pasta puttanesco

Notes

Anchovies are an essential ingredient in an otherwise simple sauce It adds depth of flavor.
 
Use good olives in oil, they have better flavor than the ones in brine. Many supermarkets have olive bars in them where you can find a variety of pitted olives in oil.