Puttanesca is one of my favorite Italian pasta dish. It is fast and easy to make, which makes it a great weeknight meal but it is also delicious enough to serve on special occasions.
I recommend making this pasta with fresh, juicy, sweet tomatoes, but chopped canned tomatoes are ok too. Use the best canned tomatoes you can buy.
For me it's not puttanesca if there are no anchovies. Anchovies add another flavor dimension, just like when you use fish sauce instead of salt. The anchovies in this recipe are chopped very finely so they will easily dissolve into the sauce.
I used shrimp in this recipe but when I don't have one, a can of good quality yellowfin tuna is an excellent substitute. Just chop the tuna finely and mix it in the end as you would do with the shrimps.
Linguini Fini is my pasta of choice for this recipe. It is a thinner version of the traditional linguini. If you can't find linguini fini, use regular linguini. Enjoy!
Print
Shrimp Pasta Puttanesca
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
Description
A healthy, fresh-tasting Italian pasta that is ready in about 30 minutes! Simple, easy, and delicious recipe - I always serve this for a date-night at home!
Ingredients
- 115 grams (4 ounces) uncooked linguini fini pasta
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 10-12 pieces shrimps, shelled and deveined
- 1 piece yellow small onion/ shallot, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 pieces anchovy fillets, minced
- ¼ cup pitted black olives, minced
- 1 tablespoon capers (drained), diced
- 3 pieces tomatoes, diced
- 2 tablespoons water
- ¼ teaspoon dried chili flakes
- ¼ cup fresh basil (optional)
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- While pasta is cooking, heat olive in a saucepan on medium heat. Add the shrimps and cook until pink on both sides and just cooked through, about 3-4 minutes, turning once. Transfer cooked shrimps on a plate and set aside.
- In the same pan, add onions/shallots and saute for about 2 minutes. Add garlic, tomato paste, anchovies, olives, capers, tomatoes, and water. Stir and cook it until the tomatoes begin to break down and sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Add more water if sauce is too thick.
- Taste and season with salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Add back the cooked shrimps and cooked linguine to the sauce and combine well.
- Chiffonade the basil (if using) and garnish on top of pasta before serving.
I love that this pasta can be done in no time. I have never had puttanesca but after realizing how easy it is, Its gonna be on my list!
Where do you buy your anchovy fillets from? I cant find them in superstore or any asian supermarket 🙂
Thanks, Sanna! I got the anchovies from real canadian superstore, in the refrigerated seafood section. Brand is Unico. They are canned then enclosed in a small box. Hope this helps!:)
Ahh! Thanks a lot. I couldn't find them because I never thought they'd be in the fridge section! Thank you!