Pasta Cosmo a la Puttanesca

[M Cosmo]

Cosmo's  Pasta a la Puttanesca

Wikipedia -" literally "whore's style spaghetti" in Italian ) is a spicy, tangy, somewhat salty Italian Pasta dish invented in the mid-20th century. The ingredients are typical from Southern Italy."

So here is the origin story. In the past the many Italian men engaged with the ladies of the night.  When their wives got fed up with them not coming home for dinner they called in some favors from the powers to be.  The ladies of the night now could only shop one day a week at the market. So they had to buy ingredients that were preserved. That is how Puttanesca come to be. 

In the traditional dish there is Anchovies (mashed into a paste), capers, sun-dried, olives, tomatoes and garlic.  Here is my version.

I had on hand... Fresh Italian red roasting peppers.  Fresh red bell peppers. Sundried tomatoes. Olives.

First put some quality pasta in to boil. Remember that the salt in the water brings out the pasta flavor. It doesn't raise the boiling temp or prevent sticking.  

While the pasta a is cooking. 

Saute some garlic in virgin olive oil. Greek oregano.  No more than 5 minutes. 

Slice the fresh red peppers into thin rings or julienne add to the garlic.  3 minutes

Add sliced fresh tomatoes - Grape or Rome. In 2 minutes.

Add the sliced or chopped Olives, Softened sun-dried tomatoes.  And your choice of any of the following.  

Fresh Oyster mushrooms.  With the fresh peppers. 

Baby canned Cannelli beans.  Traditional with capers. 

Anchovy paste.  Any hot pepper - flakes or fresh.

Don't over cook!!

Mix with the Al Dente pasta - Serve with shaved Locatelli Romano cheese. Salt and pepper. 

 

Sources for the best Oregano.  Mediterranean Oregano is the best.  Different than what we grow here. 

Italian Oregano

Greek Oregano