Mezze Maniche Alla Puttanesca Recipes

PENNE ALLA PUTTANESCA

Steps:

• Over medium-low heat, saute the onions, garlic, and chilli in a couple of Tbsp of olive oil until soft, about 10-15 min, stirring occasionally.
• Add the parsley and season well.
• Pour in the canned tomatoes, stirring the mixture well, then stir in the olives, capers, anchovies, a small amount of sugar (to reduce acidity), some more seasoning to taste, and a drizzle of olive oil(optional, I didn't add any extra oil).
• Let simmer over low heat, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 45 min to a an hour, until thick and reduced and the color has darkened to a reddish-brown.
• Test for flavors and adjust seasoning, adding more salt & pepper and/or another pinch of sugar as needed.
• Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package, drain(reserving some of the liquid) and then return to the pan.
• Ladle in a few helpings of the sauce at a time, stopping to stir the mixture, until all of the pasta has been generously coated, serving the rest on the side.
• This sauce is very thick, which we loved, but adding a bit of the pasta cooking liquid will thin it if you prefer a bit looser sauce.
• Serve immediately.

BISTECCA ALLA PUTTANESCA

Steps:

• Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Rub the steaks with the garlic and a drizzle of olive oil. Grill the steaks, turning once, for 8 minutes for medium-rare. Season with salt and pepper.
• In a small bowl, mix the butter and anchovy paste. Dollop on top of the steaks.
• In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, olives, caper berries, onion, parsley and the remaining 2 tablespoon olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Top the steaks with the tomato salad.

SPAGHETTI ALLA PUTTANESCA

Steps:

• Drain tomatoes and reserve liquid.
• Sauté onion in olive oil until browned, add garlic and red pepper flakes and continue to sauté for a couple of minutes more.
• Do not over brown the garlic.
• Add tomatoes and ½ cup of the reserved liquid, the wine, capers, olives, mushrooms, oregano, and anchovies.
• Bring sauce to boil, lower heat to simmer and cook uncovered for twenty minutes.
• If the sauce becomes too dry add more tomato juice a little at time.
• During the last 5 minutes of cooking time add basil and parsley, finish cooking.
• Once the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of water to a full rolling boil, add salt.
• Read package directions for spaghetti to determine cooking time.
• Add spaghetti and cook according to package directions so that the sauce and spaghetti are finish about the same time.
• Drain the pasta well.
• Add pasta to sauce pot, combine and cook for another minute or two.
• Move spaghetti to service plates.
• Sprinkle with grated Romano or Parmesan.

SPAGHETTI ALLA PUTTANESCA, ITALIAN STYLE

Steps:

• Put all but 1 Tbs of the olive oil and the anchovies in a large skillet over a low heat and cook, stirring and mashing the anchovies until dissolved into a paste.
• Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, taking care not to brown it (garlic gets bitter if browned).
• Raise the heat to a medium-high and add the tomatoes and juice, with a pinch of salt. When the sauce comes to a boil, turn the heat down and simmer until the tomatoes have reduced and separated from the oil. This will probably take 20-40 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and set aside. If you want, you can now refrigerate the sauce and save for the next day.
• Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot, add 1 tbs of salt, and drop in the pasta all at once, stirring until the strands are submerged. If you have a smaller pot, you can use less than 4 quarts of water, but you must constantly stir the spaghetti for one minute.
• When the pasta is almost done, return the skillet with the sauce to a medium heat, adding the oregano, capers, and olives. Simmer 3-5 more mins, no more. Cooking too long after capers and olives have been added will make sauce taste less fresh and more salty. (Trust me.).
• When the pasta is cooked al dente, drain and toss with 1/2 cup of the sauce, to pre-flavour it and prevent it from sticking. Ladle pasta into serving dishes, taste sauce for salt, pour sauce over each serving bowl and serve at once.
• This dish is also great when served with penne or fusilli.