Tuna Puttanesca Sauce

This Tuna Puttanesca sauce is quick, easy and delicious!!!!

PUTTANESCA sauce might have a scandalous past, history has it was made by prostitutes, for it’s powerful aroma,  used to drawn  customers. I don’t know how much is fact and how much is fiction,I love the history behind the recipe. I know growing up we referred to it as the sauce of the prostitutes.

The combination of anchovies, olives and capers, gives this Puttanesca sauce a robust rich flavor, with aroma that still draws people to  a different room,…. The  kitchen.

The sauce cooks quickly in this deep covered   saute pan, and it’s a deep enough pan you can toss the pasta in the same pan.

 

What I use When Making Tuna Puttanseca Sauce

I used spaghetti  pasta , you can use what fits your life style and taste, short or long shaped pasta. doesn’t matter. If the sauce is too dry use a more of the pasta water, it’s starchy from the pasta, and  great to add substance to the sauce, and because of it’s starchy it’s a thicken agent.

.I also used kalamata olives, I love their pungent taste. Traditionally the olives used my mother were picked on our family farm in Tuscany, she would cure them in a salt and water solution she changed every few days,  for weeks. until the bitterness was drawn out.  They went from a shiny purple to a shriveled up olive, she marinated in olive oil, garlic, orange rind, and red pepper flakes, they were delicious and time consuming.  It is important in this recipe to use  flavorful olives. It’s a simple sauce with bold flavors, created by strong flavored ingredients.

I hope you try this and the part I like  best…..Let me know how you liked it!!!! Enjoy restaurant style cooking at home!!!!

Please don’t forget to tag me on Instagram with your creations!!!!

Ingredients

  1. lbs. Spaghetti pasta cooked according to package directions (el Dente)
  2. 1 small chopped onion
  3. 2 Tbs. chopped garlic
  4. 4 anchovy fillets
  5. 2 cans albacore tuna in water
  6. 1/2 cup capers
  7. 1 cup chopped kalamata olives
  8. 1 15 oz. can chopped tomatoes
  9. 1 15 oz. tomato sauce
  10. 1 cup reserved pasta water
  11. 1 Tbs. each chopped Italian parsley, basil,  thyme and red pepper flakes
  12. 2 Tbs. each olive oil and butter

Instruction

1.Cook pasta according to package directions reserving 1 cup pasta water

2.Mean while prepare your sauce by heating oil and butter in a large deep saute pan, add onion and garlic, cook until tender and just begining to brown

3.Add the anchovy fillets stir until anchovies disintegrate, then add both cans of tomatoes not drained and reserved pasta water.

4.Simmer covered for 20 minutes, add the Tuna, olives, spinach, capers, red pepper flecks and herbs, simmer 10 minutes longer,

5.Always salt and pepper to taste

6.Toss with the drained spaghetti pasta, ………ENJOY