Description
Spicy and zesty angel hair pasta puttanesca brings Italian coastal flavors to your dinner table with minimal effort. Quick ingredients like capers, olives, and tomatoes create a bold sauce that lingers deliciously on delicate pasta strands for you to savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) dry angel hair pasta
- 1 28-ounce (794 grams) can whole plum tomatoes, drained and crushed by hand
- 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 4 anchovy fillets
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup (75 grams) pitted black olives, roughly chopped
- 3 tablespoons capers, drained
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Finishing Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for tossing the pasta
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water, add salt, and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Gently submerge angel hair pasta and cook until perfectly tender yet firm, following package timing. Drain thoroughly and lightly coat with olive oil to prevent clumping. Keep warm.
- Place a spacious skillet on medium-low heat. Pour olive oil and introduce minced garlic, anchovy fillets, and red pepper flakes. Stir continuously until garlic turns golden and anchovies completely melt, approximately 3 minutes.
- Pour crushed tomatoes into the skillet, seasoning with salt and pepper. Elevate heat to medium-high, allowing sauce to bubble and simmer. Cook for 5-7 minutes until tomatoes break down and release their natural essence.
- Incorporate briny olives, tangy capers, and any reserved tomato liquid. Reduce heat and let sauce gently simmer for 10 minutes, concentrating flavors and creating a slightly thickened consistency.
- Transfer drained pasta directly into the simmering sauce. Sprinkle fresh parsley and drizzle additional olive oil. Toss vigorously to ensure every strand is luxuriously coated with the robust sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Plate immediately and crown with a generous cascade of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, serving while piping hot.
Notes
- Quick-cooking angel hair pasta ensures tender, delicate strands that absorb sauce beautifully without becoming mushy.
- Toast red pepper flakes briefly to release their deep, spicy oils and enhance overall flavor complexity.
- Dissolving anchovies completely creates a rich, umami base that adds depth without pronounced fishy taste.
- Consider using gluten-free pasta for a celiac-friendly version, maintaining the recipe’s vibrant Mediterranean essence.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 76g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 10mg