Blond Puttanesca (Linguine With Tuna, Arugula and Capers) Recipe (2024)

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EugeniaH

I made this with all the bells and whistles - green castelverano olives, panko with grated lemon rind, fresh cherry tomatoes, lemon wedges. Awesome!

KRB

THis was good and I'm going to try it again with a little tinkering. Between the anchovies and the capers, this ends up very salty. I'd go lighter on the salt in the pasta water than you would normally do.

Olga

Buonissima ricetta! Pasta always needs salted water to taste delicious. Use less of the salted pasta water, and less anchovies and capers if concerned with too salty a flavour....in fact 10 anchovies (better to use the ones packed in olive oil, and not the brined ones), and the 3 tabs capers are quite a lot. Rinsing well the salt from the capers is very important. Ciao from Tuscany!

Steve

Pet peeve: Pasta comes in 16 oz. boxes. But this recipe calls for 12 oz. of pasta. Pain in the next to either measure out 3/4 of the box contenets or adjust other ingedients upward. So I’m starting a grass-roots movement to advocate for pasta recipes based on 16 oz. of pasta. To the barricades!!

NanceG

Ooooh, no comparison.The Italians poach the tuna in olive oil it’s pavked in, so it ends up being a very firm, solid, meaty mass.It isn’t like the pale-flavored, flakey, watery North American tuna which breaks down and practically disappears.When you use the oil-packed solid Italian tuna, you’ll have a nice bit of texture and flavor in every bite.Don’t toss the oil from the jar!!It’s great for using in salad dressings or sautéeing a dish like this.

BC

I do think some amazing summer cherry tomatoes would make a very nice addition, to balance the saltiness.

melissa

This recipe delivered! Only change I might make next time, is add some white wine instead of water when sauteeing the garlic and I will definitely double the arugula or add it much later in the cooking process. It shrunk too much.

Gary

10 anchovies = 2.5 tsp

andrea

This came out fantastic! Easy, salty, briny, spicy. Just be careful with salt and taste as you go along. I used salt cured capers and even after rinsing them, they were salty enough that the pasta didn’t need any additional flaky salt. Lemon at the end is a must. Serve with a simple tomato salad with basil and boom. Dinner is done. Yum.

Peg

Made this last week and loved the flavors. However, the arugula was too limp. I would add it later, with the tuna, and gently fold in for a minute or two. I will definitely make it again!

Sue Chamberlain

A dish very similar to this was served in San Francisco in a very small neighborhood restaurant. One thing they added that was a great balancer “Golden Raisins”. I loved the dish and I’m glad to have this recipe to riff on.

huja

Great minds think alike, I suppose . . . I had a couple of Roma tomatoes that I skinned, seeded, and diced that I mixed in the last step to add a little freshness and color to the dish. I'm avoiding refined carbs these days so it was whole wheat spaghetti in my recipe. This works out great because the whole wheat pasta pairs well with big, flavorful sauces. I'd make this recipe again.

Barbara G

I used spiral vegetables instead of pasta! Yumzy

Nina

This was great, and I followed it to a T, except for adding parsley. One thought though, maybe add pine nuts instead of panko. I think the crunchy, nutty flavor would be a great addition! :-)

NJ resident

This is tasty with canned Italian tuna but what if you don't have any? Use canned Alaskan salmon instead. I've made it with pink and sockeye and they are both delish, especially with chopped green olives and some thinly sliced celery (don't cook it and add at the end and toss with hot pasta). I usually add additional olive oil to taste.

Connor

Excellent dish. Fair warning that the salt on those capers really should be rinsed—I forgot to and I ended squeezing about half a lemon onto my plate afterwards just to balance things out. Awesome recipe and super easy for pretty much any home cook of any skill level.

LW

This recipe ended up being a disaster. I assumed when the recipe said it made 12 muffins that it made 12 standard muffins, so I used most of the batter. I used a ladle to put batter into the muffin tin, and was hard to know how much 3 oz was. I did not use muffin cup liners because of heating the pan and melting the butter. Unfortunately, the muffins overflowed the rim, making a nice muffin top, but also making them impossible to get them out of the pan. They all came out in pieces.

keep it classy san diego

Blah. Followed the recipe with all reasonable suggestions; arugula same time as tuna, olives and toasted panko with lemon zest topping. Classic puttanesca is MUCH better.

Jill

I already made this before seeing this recipe. However, I use canned salmon. It's very simple and good for an easy weeknight meal.

Alice

This has become a favorite in our household. Unusual mix of flavors, simple to make, and VERY tasty. Followed the recipe w/o any substitutions. Perfect.

Davis

Replace arugula with spinach

Lee

Amazing. Extra capers, lemon juice

cc

Add lemon zest and possibly half a lemon squeeze

Davis

Wait on the pasta to cook before you start the sauce

Kristin

This recipe is nearly identical to one that has been on heavy rotation at my house for the past 15 years! I originally found it on the back of a box of linguine. Over time, it has evolved to feature kale instead of arugula and no anchovies but oil-cured black olives along with the capers. I couldn’t believe how my young children gobbled it down! It became known as “Tuna In-guine”. When we started using spinach linguine, it became “Tuna In-greeny”. By which name we still call it.

ossareh

This recipe is fantastic!! Followed it to a tee except rather than the canned tuna I bought tuna steak, chopped it into small cubes (1/8” a side), mixed with a bit of olive oil and black pepper, pre cooked before adding to the dish. Served four perfectly with no left overs!

John

For two people, I cook 4 oz/125 grams of pasta (spaghetti, linguini or fettuccini work well with strands of arugula) in lightly salted water, 1 1/2 cloves garlic, 1 dried red pepper cut up, 2 anchovies, about 1 T capers, 2.5 oz arugula, 1 can (4.5 oz) tuna in oil (was too salty with more anchovies and capers, heavily salted water)

SEA

Great easy pasta dish. Next time I'll double the red pepper flake.

Spatchco*ck

Be sure to use Italian tuna packed in olive oil, it makes a HUGE difference in flavour.Be sure to use ALL the drained olive oil the tuna comes packed in to fry up your anchovies and garlic and become base of your sauce.Makes a HUGE difference in flavour.Only caveat ... there is some water that will be mixed in with your drained tuna oil, making it a bit messy as it pops while heating up. Be mindful, not to get any hot/popping oil in your skin or clothing.

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Blond Puttanesca (Linguine With Tuna, Arugula and Capers) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does pasta puttanesca mean in English? ›

put·​ta·​nes·​ca ˌpü-tä-ˈne-skä : served with or being a pungent tomato sauce typically containing olives, garlic, capers, hot pepper, and sometimes anchovies.

What is the taste of puttanesca sauce? ›

Puttanesca sauce recipes will vary based on what ingredients are available on-hand, but traditionally, puttanesca sauce tastes salty from the olives and anchovies with a sweet kick from the tomatoes and oil. Puttanesca is a unique variation from traditional tomato sauces, but its flavor profile is hard to beat.

What to pair with puttanesca pasta? ›

Top pairings
  1. Sicilian and southern Italian reds such as nero d'avola, negroamara and primitivo.
  2. Inexpensive zinfandel (you don't want one that's too extracted or high in alcohol with this punchy pasta sauce)
  3. Barbera - from Northern Italy or elsewhere - always a good wine with a rustic dish.
May 24, 2021

What is puttanesca mix? ›

Puttanesca is also known for the bold herbs used to make the dish. This blend contains classic Italian herbs like parsley, garlic, black olives and dried tomatoes. It also has a bit of chilli in it just to tickle the taste buds!

What is puttanesca sauce made of? ›

Bold and comforting in the best way, puttanesca sauce is made of simple pantry staples including canned tomatoes, garlic, anchovies, olives and capers. Throw in some spaghetti for the perfect pasta puttanesca any night of the week!

What can I use instead of anchovies in Puttanesca? ›

What Can I Use Instead Of Anchovy In Puttanesca? There really is no perfect substitute for the anchovies in Puttanesca sauce, but you can use miso paste, fish sauce or even just a little extra salt. Some say seaweed makes for an excellent vegan substitute.

What does puttanesca mean in Italian? ›

Puttanesca translates as “in the style of the whor*.” The name derives from the Italian word puttana which means whor*. Puttana in turn arises from the Latin word putida which means stinking.

Is puttanesca good for you? ›

Pasta Puttanesca is packed with tomato nutrition

Fresh and canned tomatoes improve health by reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer. Tomatoes are high in potassium which helps blunt the effect of sodium on blood pressure. So tomatoes lead to healthier blood pressure.

What if puttanesca is too salty? ›

If you find there's too much salt, add in a scoop of tap water to reduce the salt. Stir and gently cook to make the sauce glossy and slightly loose – but not watery.

Do Italians eat pasta with olives? ›

Olives are a significant part of the Mediterranean diet, and Italy is one of the countries in the Mediterranean region where olive cultivation and consumption have a long history. Olives are used in various dishes, such as salads, pasta sauces, pizzas, and antipasti (appetizers).

What drink tastes good with pasta? ›

Red wines go well with heartier pasta dishes with creamy sauces, while light-bodied white wines go better with seafood or veggie-based dishes. For a cream-based sauce like Alfredo, a heavier white wine like Chardonnay balances the sauce's richness well. The same thing to creamy pasta dishes like carbonara.

How long does puttanesca sauce last in the fridge? ›

Once you've put it out, ideally you should eat it within 4 hours. If you allow any leftovers to cool, make sure to refrigerate in a container with a lid and chill. You can keep leftovers of Spaghetti alla Puttanesca in the fridge for approximately 3 days or so.

What are capers and what do they taste like? ›

The taste of a caper is reminiscent of the lemony tang and brininess of green olives, but with a smack of floral tartness all their own. Because they're packed in brine, capers also have a very salty, savory flavor profile.

What country is puttanesca from? ›

Spaghetti alla puttanesca (Italian: [spaˈɡetti alla puttaˈneska]) is an Italian pasta dish invented in Naples in the mid-20th century and made typically with tomatoes, olive oil, olives, anchovies, chili peppers, capers, and garlic, with vermicelli or spaghetti.

What's the difference between pasta arrabiata and pasta puttanesca? ›

Like puttanesca sauce, arrabbiata sauce is tomato-based and typically includes garlic, olive oil, and red chili flakes. However, arrabbiata sauce does not contain anchovies, capers, or olives, which are distinctive ingredients of puttanesca sauce.

What kind of food is the Italian Puttanesca? ›

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca is a traditional Italian pasta from Naples that's quick to put together from pantry staples. If you have canned tomatoes, garlic, olives, anchovies and capers in your cupboard, you can knock out this simple but flavourful sauce in a flash.

What does spaghetti alla puttanesca taste like? ›

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca tastes like the most bold and intense tomato sauce you've ever tried. In addition two two kinds of tomatoes (paste and peeled whole canned), there are capers, anchovies, olives, and peppers going on as well. It is briny and acidic, garlicky and so very flavorful.

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