50 Pastas Puttanesca with Broccolini
If I had to choose between watching an epic movie or TV sitcom the sitcom would win every time…hands down! I am a total sitcom junkie: they’re quick, they’re witty and just downright good conversation for the water cooler at work. I get lost in the romance between Mindy and Danny. I enjoy the craziness that follows the Heck family. And when I am in the mood for a classic I like to hang with “Fusilli Jerry” and “Can’t-stand-ya!”
Speaking of Fusilli- that is the type of pasta that goes perfect with this Puttanesca sauce! Add a side of Broccolini dressed with black olives and lemon and you’ve got the perfect dish to enjoy as sitcom season begins!
The beauty of this meal is that each component share ingredients…and what a beautiful array of ingredients we have…
While you cook your Fusilli pasta according to the package directions, let’s make the sauce! In a skillet we are going to sauté garlic, black olives, capers and anchovies. Yes, Anchovies!! Don’t knock it till you try it! They actually melt into the dish as you cook them leaving a salty flavor behind!
To your garlic mixture you will add hand crushed tomatoes, water, salt and oregano. Then you are going to let them hang out together and get to know each other. The best way to enjoy a meal is with friends that get along! Season with salt and red pepper flakes, stir in some parsley and your pasta sauce is ready to meet the lovely Fusilli!
Toss together and your pasta is almost ready for its debut. But there is one final character we need to cast to complete the ensemble…ENTER BROCCOLINI!
She’s a gentle flower, quite unlike her big brother Broccoli, but deliciously sweet none the less. Blanch Broccolini in some boiling water till she is bright green.
In another skillet sauté garlic and red pepper flakes in oil til fragrant. Toss in the Broccolini and some of her cooking water , cover and cook the broccolini til tender. This gives a delightful garlic taste with a little kick in the pants!
Toss in the olives and some lemon zest, top with some parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil and Miss Broccolini is ready for her close up!
Puttanesca and Broccolini will totally steal the show at your next pasta night! The fact that these two components share the majority of ingredients used means the flavors will shine and totally complement each other! I love chemistry on and off the screen …I mean plate!
In other news…have you seen the lineup of new shows coming this fall? My Hulu account is going to be working over time!! What TV show are you looking forward to watching? Let me know in the comments below!
Love ya,
JJ
- 6 garlic cloves sliced
- ½ Cup Black Olives chopped
- ¼ Cup Capers drained
- 4 anchovies in olive oil, chopped
- 1 (28 oz) can whole tomatoes- crushed by hand
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- Salt
- Red Pepper flakes
- ½ Cup chopped parsley
- 1lb Fusilli
- Two 1-pound bunches of broccolini, thick stems discarded
- 2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper
- ½ cup pitted oil cured black olives, chopped
- 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
- Salt
- 2 Tbs freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Over medium heat cook the garlic, olives, capers and anchovies until the garlic is golden. Add 1 cup of water, tomatoes and the oregano. Season with salt and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 15 minutes then add the parsley. Toss in the cooked fusilli using up to ½ cup of pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Cook the broccolini in a large pot of boiling water until it is bright green, about 1 minute. Drain the broccolini, reserving ½ a cup of the cooking water.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook over medium low heat until it becomes fragrant (about 1 minute). Add the broccolini and the cooking water, cover and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the olives and lemon zest then season with salt to taste. Transfer to a serving dish, drizzle with oil and sprinkle with parmesan cheese for garnish.
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