Pasta alla puttanesca, or, pasta with harlot's sauce. This recipe comes from Sean Burke, <sburke@nwu.edu>, with annotations and historical additions by Chuck.
Heat water for pasta. Put 4 tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan and sautee onions and garlic over medium heat until onions wilt. Add tomato paste, 1 cup water, olives, oregano, basil and red pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- 4 quarts water, for boiling pasta
- 7 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, medium dice
- 2 garlic cloves, minced (Sean says make it at least 5 if you're Italian!)
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup water
- 6 Roma tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
- 20 Italian OR Greek oil-cured olives, pitted and sliced
- 1-1/2 tablespoons capers, drained
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 slices good Italian or white bread, crusts trimmed and discarded, diced. (Sean says, "Don't you dare use fucking Wonder Bread!")
- 1 pound spaghettini, or your favorite pasta
- Fresh parsley, minced
Heat remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet and sautee bread cubes over medium heat, tossing until crisp and golden. Lift onto paper towels and sprinkle with salt; keep warm.
Cook pasta until al dente; drain and toss with sauce. Divide into serving portions and sprinkle with croutons and parsley. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired. Makes 4 servings.
Nutritional info: 684 calories; 16g protein; 27g fat; 1 mg cholesterol; 94g complex carbs.; 2 grams dietary fiber; 631 mg sodium; 35% of calories from fat.
Sean's note: "Parmesan cheese is a pathetic, definitely non-Sicilian touch to what is clearly a Sicilian dish. Use cheese only if you are in fact a whore who has no sense of good taste.
"Also note that, aside from the possibility of eggs in the bread, this is a completely vegan dish. Whores couldn't afford meat, get it?"
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