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

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Cooking Notes

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 are the main ingredients in puttanesca sauce? ›

Ingredients
  • 3 tbsp olive oil.
  • 1 onion, finely chopped.
  • 2 large garlic cloves, crushed.
  • ½ tsp chilli flakes (optional)
  • 400g can chopped tomatoes.
  • 5 anchovy fillets, finely chopped.
  • 120g pitted black olives.
  • 2 tbsp capers, drained.

What is the meaning behind puttanesca? ›

It is an easy sauce, briefly cooked, and is very fragrant and spicy. 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.

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 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 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 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 is another name for pasta puttanesca? ›

In Naples, this type of pasta sauce commonly goes under the name aulive e chiapparielle (olives and capers). The dish under its current name first appears in gastronomic literature in the 1960s.

What are the health benefits of puttanesca? ›

Quick, inexpensive and filling, puttanesca pasta is an Italian favorite. You'll enjoy this recipe for its simplicity, savory taste and health-promoting benefits, including lycopene from the tomatoes, which helps prevent cancer and heart disease, heart-smart garlic and vitamin-rich herbs.

What country is puttanesca from? ›

Naples, Italy

Spaghetti alla puttanesca is a relatively new addition to Italian cuisine, emerging in Naples in the mid-20th century.

What to pair with puttanesca? ›

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.

Can you use sardines instead of anchovies for puttanesca? ›

This Sardine Puttanesca recipe from the authors of Rustle Up, Rhiannon Batten and Laura Rowe, is a twist on the classic umami-flavoured Italian dish of puttanesca, and uses sardines in place of anchovies, and fusilli in place of spaghetti, for a meatier bite.

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 can I use in place of capers in puttanesca? ›

Chef's tip: if you cannot find Capers, you can use Green Olives or Green Peppercorns as a substitute.

What does the Italian word puttanesca mean in English? ›

There are various colourful stories explaining how this dish came to be, and how Puttanesca pasta got its name. “Puttanesca” roughly translates to “working girls” in Italian (that's a politically correct term I'm using there!)

What is the difference between puttanesca and amatriciana? ›

Complexity of Flavors: Salsa alla Puttanesca and Salsa all'Amatriciana offer intricate flavor profiles. Choose Puttanesca for a briny, Mediterranean experience, and Amatriciana for a Roman-inspired umami-rich delight.

What are the ingredients in Prego pasta sauce? ›

More
  • Ingredients. TOMATO PUREE (WATER, TOMATO PASTE), DICED TOMATOES IN TOMATO JUICE, SUGAR, VEGETABLE OIL (CORN, AND/OR CANOLA), CONTAINS LESS THAN 1% OF: SALT, DEHYDRATED ONIONS, SPICES, DEHYDRATED GARLIC, CITRIC ACID, ONION EXTRACT, GARLIC EXTRACT.
  • Features & Benefits. ...
  • Preparation. ...
  • Storage & Handling. ...
  • Serving Ideas.

What is Italian pasta sauce made of? ›

The base of this classic is made with beef or pork (or a combination of both) pancetta, onions, carrots, as well as ripe fresh tomatoes or tomato puree, red or very dry wine, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. The sauce is finished with a splash of milk or cream.

Do Italians put anchovies in their red sauce? ›

You are very likely to come across this dish in Italy, especially in the Southern regions. It is typically made of tomatoes, black olives, capers, and anchovies along with garlic and sometimes a little bit of red chili pepper to add some spice. Different versions eliminate anchovies or call for other ingredients.

What is Olive Garden's meat sauce made of? ›

**Our meat sauce is made with pan-seared beef and Italian sausage.

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