The story
goes that pasta alla puttanesca
(from puttana, or “prostitute” in Italian) got its name from ladies of the evening who could
make this simple, satisfying dish quickly—between clients. Another tale claims
the name derived from ladies who set aromatic, tempting bowls of it on their
windowsills to entice customers. In my opinion, both could be true. The dish is certainly simple and fast—and its
aromas and flavors are most assuredly enticing.
The key
ingredients are anchovies, olives, and capers—all deliciously briny and rich. Some recipes call for canned tomatoes, but if you’ve got fresh
ones, go for those. A mixture is fine—I simply scoured the garden and came away
with cluster, roma, and black cherry varieties. A quick chop is all they need.
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Assorted Tomatoes |
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 8 oz spaghetti
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 10-12 flat anchovy fillets (1.5-oz jar), coarsely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 1-1/2 lbs tomatoes, coarsely chopped
- 3/4 cup thickly sliced black olives
- 1/4 cup drained capers
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried red pepper flakes
- sea salt
- freshly ground black pepper
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Chopped Tomatoes |
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Remaining Ingredients |
Preparation
- Cook the spaghetti in boiling, salted water until al dente, 9-10
minutes. Drain.
- Heat a large saucepan or deep skillet over medium-low heat
and add the olive oil. Add the anchovies
and garlic and mash with a wooden spoon until the anchovies are partially
dissolved and the garlic is crushed, 2-3 minutes
- Add the onion and sauté 2 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes, olives, capers, oregano, and red pepper
flakes and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the tomatoes break down and
the flavors meld, 15 minutes. Add the drained pasta to the pan and stir or toss
to incorporate.
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Mash the Anchovies and Garlic |
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Onions Added |
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Remaining Ingredients Added |
|
Cooked Sauce |
|
Pasta Added |
Divide the puttanesca among 4 pasta bowls and
serve hot.
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Spaghetti Puttanesca |
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