Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Comfort & Spice & Everything Nice

Pasta-the easy, inexpensive and reliable comfort food is a dinner party staple. Why not spice your next one up with this flavorful sauce, affectionately coined "Streetwalker's Sauce" by its Italian creators.

Puttanesca Sauce*

Enough for 1 lb. pasta

Heat in a large skillet over medium heat:
¼ c. extra-virgin olive oil

Add:
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 dried red chili pepper


Cook, stirring and crushing the pepper with the back of a spoon, just until the garlic is pale blond, about 30 seconds. Stir in:
1 c. oil-cured black olives, such as Gaeta, pitted and coarsely chopped
6 anchovy fillets, soaked in water to cover for 5 minutes and drained
½ teaspoon dried oregano


Cook for about 30 seconds, then stir in:
1 28-oz. can whole tomatoes with juice. Crush the tomatoes between your fingers as you add them to the pan.

Simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in:
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
2 tablspoons drained capers


Season with:
Salt and ground black pepper to taste.

*Taken from The Joy of Cooking

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