Pasta with Tomatoes, Olives and Capers

Name: Pasta with Tomatoes, Olives and Capers (Pasta alla Puttanesca)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 1 onion, finely chopped; 3 garlic cloves, crushed; 2 anchovy fillets in oil (optional); 2 anchovy fillets in oil (optional); pinch of dried chilli flakes or chilli powder (or to taste); pinch of dried chilli flakes or chilli powder (or to taste); 2 x 400 g (14½ oz) tins peeled plum tomatoes or passata, or a mix of both; 2 x 400 g (14½ oz) tins peeled plum tomatoes or passata, or a mix of both; 30 g (10 oz/3 tablespoons) capers; 150 g (5 oz/1 cup) pitted black or green olives, or a mix of both; 150 g (5 oz/1 cup) pitted black or green olives, or a mix of both; 5-6 fresh basil leaves; 1 tablespoons coarse or kosher salt for the pasta water; 1 tablespoons coarse or kosher salt for the pasta water; 1 tablespoons coarse or kosher salt for the pasta water; 500 g (1 lb 2 oz) pasta of your choice; Parmesan cheese, freshly grated (optional); sea salt and black pepper, to taste; sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Pasta alla Puttanesca

Preparation info

Serves
4-6

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
1 hr 15

Appears in

Jewish Flavours of Italy

By Silvia Nacamulli

Published 2022

About

This is the pasta of my student days in Israel. I became known amongst my friends for my puttanesca and also my tiramisù. I love tomatoes and olives so this sauce ticks all the boxes for me. You can easily make the sauce a day in advance, and it freezes well.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, crus

Asia
Europe
Israel
Italy
Pasta
Vegan
Jewish

Method

Heat the oil in a large frying pan or saucepan over a low heat, add the onion and cook for 1 minute, then add a couple of tablespoons of water and cook for 5-7 minutes. Once the water has evaporated, add the garlic, anchovy fillets (if using), chilli and a pinch each of salt and pepper and cook for a couple of minutes over a low to medium heat.
Add the plum tom