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.

Marie

Love the idea of a "blond" puttanesca. I didn't have capers or sardines, so I used sundried tomatoes for that salty burst of flavor. Came out great.

LaurieKY

I read all the positive reviews and thought this would be outstanding, but even though I followed the recipe pretty closely (I’m generally prone to tinkering), the sum was far less than its parts. The delicious (and expensive) oil-packed tuna…lost. The capers and anchovies…same. Though thank goodness for the panko/lemon zest, and a sprinkle of finishing salt, which fortunately made it edible.

Amo Coquere

Love, love, love this pasta! I do add a bit more pasta water. I make the full recipe and eat it over the course of a few days as I’m the only family member who likes tuna … lucky me!

Amanda B

Made fresh pasta - amazing Fettuccine Didn’t have arugula- added leek with garlic- also v good but try with arugula next timeSqueezed half lemon at end10/10 AMAZING recipe for company or special occasion

Julie

This was excellent! Made as directed but added toasted pine nuts as I plated. Served with steamed green beans with fresh thyme and lemon zest. I’m looking forward to making this again!

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.

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

FAQs

What does pasta alla puttanesca mean in English? ›

It is an easy sauce, briefly cooked, and is very fragrant and spicy. Puttanesca translates as “in the style of the whore.” The name derives from the Italian word puttana which means whore. Puttana in turn arises from the Latin word putida which means stinking.

What to pair with puttanesca pasta? ›

Pairing puttanesca sauce with rustic Italian reds such as Primitivo or Nero d'Avola would support the “if it grows together it goes together” philosophy. Just keep in mind that the peppery heat of the dish will be amplified by higher alcohol wines.

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.

Why is puttanesca so good? ›

What's so special about puttanesca sauce? While I love the added briny flavors from kalamata olives and capers in this tomato-based pasta sauce, I consider anchovies to be the secret ingredient. They're what distinguishes puttanesca from any other red sauce you may be familiar with.

What's the difference between marinara and puttanesca sauce? ›

Marinara is a simple tomato sauce consisting of tomatoes, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, garlic and herbs. Where Marinara is pretty tame, Puttanesca sauce is flavored with more pungent, punchy ingredients like olives, anchovies, capers and red pepper flakes.

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 wine goes with tuna puttanesca? ›

Tuna Puttanesca

While you could play it safe and pair this pasta with a dry white wine, we love how a plummy merlot balances the tuna, briny olives and acidic tomatoes of this dish.

What drink goes with puttanesca? ›

With hot spicy sauces such as arrabbiatta, aglio olio e peperoncino (garlic, oil and chilli) and puttanesca (anchovies, capers and olives) try either a sharply flavoured dry white wine or a rustic Italian red: a Primitivo or Sicilian red, Zinfandel or Valpolicella Ripasso.

What do capers 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 can I use in place of capers in puttanesca? ›

What's the Best Substitute for Capers? Try These 9 Ideas
  • Green olives. They're salty, they're acidic, they're savory, they're buried somewhere in your fridge—what more can you ask for? ...
  • Lemon. What a difference a squeeze of fresh lemon makes. ...
  • Pickles. ...
  • Green peppercorns. ...
  • Thyme. ...
  • Caper berries. ...
  • Artichoke hearts. ...
  • Anchovies.
Apr 15, 2020

What olives taste like capers? ›

Manzanilla olives will be your best bet for caper replacements in terms of taste, texture, and appearance due to their acidic, savory flavor and their deep yellow-green color.

What does puttanesca mean in Italian? ›

Puttanesca translates as “in the style of the whore.” The name derives from the Italian word puttana which means whore. Puttana in turn arises from the Latin word putida which means stinking. Now I'll bet your wondering how this tasty dish became associated with such sordid content.

What to eat with puttanesca? ›

Chicken Puttanesca is a full meal on its own, but you'll likely want something to soak up all the sauce. Crispy homemade Rosemary Focaccia, hot and fresh out of the oven is a special treat. Plain noodles tossed with olive oil or crusty bread are also worthy contenders.

What if puttanesca is too salty? ›

You can reduce the salt in water, but if your sauce is too salty the final dish will still turn out imbalanced. Consider making another batch of puttanesca making sure you carefully soak the capers before adding them and don't add any salt, so that it results low on salt, then mix the two batches together.

What does penne puttanesca translate to? ›

Translated loosely to “lady of the night,” puttanesca is a flavorful sauce with a somewhat sordid history.

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 is spaghetti with red sauce called in Italy? ›

Italians pride themselves on their emphatically regional cuisine. But if a national dish did exist, it would be Pasta al Pomodoro. After all, what is more Italian than a nice dish of pasta tossed with fresh tomato sauce, perfumed with basil, and garnished with a shower of Parmigiano cheese?

Which Italian phrase refers to pasta? ›

The term al dente is almost always used to talk about food, particularly pasta. Most experienced cooks prepare rigatoni, fettuccine, macaroni, and other kinds of pasta so that it's still al dente when it's served. Al dente is Italian, and literally means "to the tooth," from a Latin root word, dent, or "tooth."

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