I learnt about this sauce from the Series of Unfortunate Events movie (IYKYK) and I’ve never looked back. Its a super salty, umami, rich tomatoey sauce – it really packs a punch without feeling too heavy. This is such a great go to weeknight dinner, sped up even more by using a frozen batch of my marinara. I always have a stock of this in my freezer as it can be adapted for so many dishes, and having the sauce ready knocks a good 20 mins off cooking times. This is another of my 15 minute pasta dishes where the sauce is prepped & cooked in the time it takes the pasta to cook. I’ve called this puttaensca-esque as I’ve included tuna which the original doesn’t – I love the addition of tuna for some extra fishiness and protein which keeps me fuller longer.
Putanesca (-esque) Sauce
Serves 1 | 15 mins prep + cook
Ingredients
100g fusilli or other short pasta (or 75g if you aren’t very hungry like me 95% of the time)
1 large clove garlic, thinly sliced
3 jarred/tinned anchovy fillets
1/2 tin tuna (drained)
1/4 batch of my marinara sauce
35g black olives roughly chopped
1tbsp capers
Sprinkle of chilli flakes, to taste
Handful parsley finely chopped
Squeeze of lemon to taste
Parmesan to serve
Method
- Cook the pasta in a heavily salted pan of water until al dente.
- Meanwhile, heat a splash of olive oil in a frying pan over medium high heat. Add the anchovies and fry, stirring often, until they dissolve into the oil.
- Add the garlic and frying until golden. Keep a close eye on this as this will burn quickly. Add the tuna and stir until combined
- Reduce the heat to low and add the marinara, capers, olives and chilli flakes (if using). Stir until warmed through. If the sauce is too thick at this point, add some pasta water to reach the desired consistency.
- Take off the heat, add salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste. Stir through the parsley (reserve some to serve) and set aside.
- Once the pasta is cooked, combine with the sauce and serve with the remaining parsley sprinkled on top and some grated parmesan.
Bakes By Meg 