Wednesday, November 28, 2007

pasta puttanesca




Tonight, we had a meal that we eat at least once a week around these parts... pasta puttanesca. If sugo de puttanesca is the sauce of whores, then we proudly raise our hands and admit to being big ol' pasta-loving hookers. (I'm sorry, who can resist? The jokes write themselves!) Unfortunately, it being dark and all, I couldn't capture a good photo- that's where this picture from back in the summer comes in.

This sauce is so robust and full of flavor, that absolutely nothing is lost by leaving out the traditional anchovies.

I won't give an exact recipe, because everyone has their own preferences, but to make pasta alla puttanesca, make sure not to leave out:
  • capers
  • oil-cured black olives
  • garlic
  • onions
  • tomatoes - diced, crushed, fresh, canned, just make sure to use the tangiest, highest-quality tomatoes you can find!
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • red pepper flakes
Daiku adds these touches to his sauce:
  • balsamic vinegar (just a tiny bit to deglaze the onions and garlic)
  • pinch of basil, pinch of oregano
Basically,
  • heat your oil, add your herbs
  • add your onions and garlic, sauté for a while
  • add chopped olives and capers
  • deglaze with the balsamic vinegar
  • add your tomatoes, stir to combine, and then let the sauce simmer on low heat until it's a bit thickened and has taken on a dark rich color
  • toss with pasta, and serve.
  • buon appetito!

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24 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've been loving your daily posts! Your sauce looks great, but I love anything with capers in it!

I borrowed your 2006 Thanksgiving entree idea -- thanks for sharing it! My family loved the stuffed portobellas and they were very easy to put together.

I hope you and Daiku had a great holiday. I was out sick last week and got to see Oprah's favorite things show and it was hard to watch -- I kept putting things into everyday life ($70 facial cream - two weeks of groceries; $800 camera - 1/2 mortage payment and so on). Based on my reactions to the Oprah show, I totally agree with your Black Friday observations but, unfortunately, when funds are limited, it's hard to hold to your ideals. While I really want to skip the shopping, the items I needed were marked down about $10 - $30 so I stuck to a list and bought the few gifts that I needed for our family gift exchange. Maybe next year I can skip the shopping.

Liz Ranger (Bubble Tea for Dinner) said...

I think that's easiest run-down of puttanesca I've seen so far, and that's sorely tempting me to make it (in the hopes it looks half as good as yours *.*)

Unknown said...

I love me some puttanesca! and I'm with midwest vegan, I hope veganmofo never ends so that I can enjoy your daily posts forever and ever and...

anna/village vegan said...

this is my absolutely most favourite pasta sauce ever. I'm glad you use oil-cured olives too, because I've seen so many recipes that call for kalamata olives, which are nice, but, well, not oil-cured.

Rural Vegan said...

I've eaten pasta at least 10 times in the past 14 days and even then, the puttanesca makes me drool!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

despite the rather risquè name, I've always ADORED pasta puttanesca - and hey, your photograph looks stunning, if you ask me!

Lori- the Pleasantly Plump Vegan said...

you crack me up! yr pasta dish looks yummy!

Ashasarala said...

Pasta is my dream food. I don't think I could ever get sick of it, as long as the sauces are always changin'.

Anonymous said...

I don't know why... but I've never made this before. I'm an idiot. I need to hop on the pasta puttanesca train immediately. wow - looks delicious!

theONLYtania said...

Heh is it still puttanesca if I leave out the olives and capers? I hate those! Looks delicious though :)

Tami said...

Puttanesca is one of my all time favorite pasta dishes. Your's looks incredible!

Theresa said...

Andy and I watched the movie 'Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events' the other night, and the kids had to make dinner so they said - "Puttanesca. It means very few ingredients." And I thought, I know this is a kids movie, but that's a flat out lie!

Anonymous said...

I have to make this, I have to make this, I have to make this!

(I don't understand the joke but it's funny that the word Puttanesca always reminds me of Pute, which means whore) :)

Unknown said...

i have never had a pasta sauce wih capers & black olives! where have i been? that sounds like the best thing ever! since i have eveything to make that...its going to be made soon.

TB said...

mmm, puttanesca... must. have. now. i've never actually made my own, believe it or not, so i'm going to need to get on that. you make it look so easy (but beautiful)!

Candi said...

Oh! I just bought come capers for the first time ever. I didn't know what to make with them, and now I see... Pasta with the sauce of the whores! ;)

Looks great, and my jar of capers is now happy to have a purpose in my kitchen!

Pink Theory said...

ah, pasta dishes. the lovely go-to dish for the busy week. the puttanesca looks and sounds great.

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