PASTA III

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca

(pronounced [spaˈɡetti alla puttaˈneska]; literally "spaghetti in the style of a whore" in Italian) a pasta dish invented in Naples in the mid-20th century. Its ingredients typically include tomatoes, olive oil, anchovies, olives, capers and garlic. This is, with-out-a-doubt my all time favorite pasta offering.

"In the style of a whore." Indulge me if you will. The story as I heard it goes something like this. A whore gets done working sometime early in the morning and goes back to her little flat nearly broke due to her pimp taking the lions share of her nights meager earnings. She looks around her rundown little kitchen and all she finds in her pantry is the following. Of course some spaghetti. A few green olives and a few black olives. Some canned diced tomatoes from last summer. A small tin of anchovy fillets. A small jar of capers. A little cheese and being a good Italian girl some olive oil and fresh garlic. and VOILA! A pasta classic was born.

The Recipe

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 anchovies fillets

3/4 cup sliced garlic

14 oz. can diced tomatoes

1&1/2 cup green olives (cut in half)

1&1/2 cup black Kalamata olives (cut in half)

1 jar 3.5 oz. Capers

SERVES 4

What she found may have looked something like this. And 16 oz. of fresh pasta

Heat the oil till hot and add the anchovies and stir and mash to break the anchovies up. Add the garlic and saute.

When the garlic begins to turn golden and soften add the rest of the ingredients

While your sauce is coming up to temperature boil your spaghetti and put it into a bowl with some sauce for tossing.

Toss or stir with fork or tongs then lift the spaghetti to your serving plate and pile it in the middle. Pour the remaining ingredients over top of the pasta.

Garnish with cheese, some more parsley and buttered or oiled Italian bread and serve.

I use more oil than most I assume. I've seen it served as a thick tomato gravy. If you're feeling experimental you may want to leave out the anchovies and poach a skinless salmon fillet in it. I've done that several times and it was always a hit.

Anyway, this is a really simple and easy HUGELY delicious dish. I encourage everyone to make it at least once.

Eat well and live large my friends.