Pasta Puttanesca – This Spaghetti’s For Adults Only

Food Let's Lunch — 11 November 2011

Has it gotten a little… boring… in the kitchen?

If you’re like many parents, you probably have a usual routine. And I bet the usual includes a lot of pasta, only in the form of macaroni and cheese, bowties with melted butter, spaghetti and meatballs.

But sometimes you need to spice it up a little.

Maybe you need to turn to the professionals. In this case, the World’s Oldest Profession.

You see, this month’s Let’s Lunch theme is Seduction, in honor of Hot Curries and Cold Beer‘s steamy new novel The Djinn’s Dilemma (Harlequin Noctourne Cravings).

So put the kids to bed, turn down the lights, and fire up the stove. This spaghetti’s for adults only.

Pasta Puttanesca

Ingredients:

1 can tomatoes

2 cloves garlic

4 fillets of anchovies (drained canned tuna can be substituted, but the sauce will take on a different character)

1 tsp. capers

1/4 c. sliced olives

olive oil

1 lb. dry spaghetti

chopped fresh parsley, if available

Directions:

Mince garlic.
Cut anchovies crosswise into about 1/2″ pieces.
Heat 2-3 Tbs. olive oil in a large skillet, add garlic. When garlic is golden and aromatic, add anchovies, then olives and capers.
Add canned tomatoes, breaking up large pieces by squeezing them through your fingers, if necessary. Reduce heat to simmer.
Meanwhile, boil spaghetti.
Add cooked, drained spaghetti to the skillet and toss to coat. Garnish with parsley and serve.

This recipe was originally published on Open Salon, where you can already read the back story of my first experience with Pasta Puttanesca.

More Let’s Lunch, Seduction Edition:

Leigh Nannini Rivas’ Apple Cider Donuts on His With Hers

Linda Shiue’s West African Groundnut Stew on Beautiful Memorable Food

Joe Yonan’s Stew for Seduction

Mina Khan’s Seafood Soup

Cathy Shambley’s Roasted Red Pepper Spicy Jelly on Show Food Chef

Steff Child’s Flirty Italian Snack on Kitchen Trials

More to links to come, so check back!

About Author

Grace

Hi, I'm Grace Hwang Lynch. HapaMama is a place to share the stories, traditions and challenges of Asian mixed-race families.

(11) Readers Comments

Joe Yonan
November 11, 2011 at 9:50 AM

Sometimes you have to leave it to the pros for a solution, right? Fun post.

Reply
Rashda/Mina/SpiceBites
November 11, 2011 at 11:15 AM

As I parent I totally get the need for spicing things up in the kitchen ;P And this happens to be one of my personal favorites! Yum….

Reply
Bicultural Mama
November 11, 2011 at 12:25 PM

Yum, looks delish! And how special, it’s for adults only, hmmm… :)

Reply
Aisha G @HartlynKids
November 11, 2011 at 1:45 PM

Now I’m hungry!!!

Reply
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Linda @spiceboxtravels
November 11, 2011 at 8:46 PM

That’s a lot of wink-wink, nudge-nudging there, Grace! The photo of the pasta is droolicious.

Reply
- Grace
  November 11, 2011 at 10:39 PM
  
  *wink*
  
  Reply
Cathy/ShowFoodChef
November 11, 2011 at 10:38 PM

Such a fun post, love the pic and the recipe is so clear! Nice job, must make, can’t wait to eat this :D

Reply
Emma C
November 16, 2011 at 2:43 PM

Great looking pasta! Glad I wasn’t the only pasta for #LetsLunch this month!

Reply
Virginia Kahler-Anderson, aka HomeRearedChef
November 18, 2011 at 1:34 PM

In honor of the ladies of the night calling, luring with their delicious pasta! Pasta Puttanesca is only one of my favorite pasta dishes. Thank you for the reminder, Grace, because I actually have everything I need to put this together, and now I know what I will surprise my husband with for dinner.

~Virginia

Reply
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