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Italian food, or at least Italian-inspired food, is one of the most popular cuisines in the US. Many Americans are used to eating lasagna for dinner, making risotto when they’re trying to impress, and going out for pizza. However, there are many delicious Italian dishes Americans might be missing out on, especially in the realm of home cooking. One of the best Italian dishes most Americans are missing out on is pasta alla puttanesca.
In 1988, actress Sophia Loren released the cookbook Sophia Loren’s Recipes and Memories, which includes her recipe for one of the best Italian dishes, pasta alla puttanesca. Born Sofia Costanze Brigida Villani Scicolone in Rome, Sophia Loren was the epitome of Italian glamour. The iconic star from Hollywood’s Golden Age is known for her performances in films like Houseboat, Marriage Italian Style, and Two Women. She won an Academy Award for Two Women in 1961, the first actor to win for a role in a foreign language. The cookbook is a collection of her favorite recipes from growing up in Italy, including her version of the classic dish.
What Is Pasta Alla Puttanesca?
Pasta alla puttanesca is a pasta dish that originated in the Quartieri Spagnoli neighborhood of Naples. It features an aromatic, tomato-based sauce made with garlic, black olives, capers, and anchovies that’s traditionally served with spaghetti. The dish is a dream for anyone who loves briny, salty ingredients, which are balanced out by the plain pasta. Even better, it takes only about 20 minutes to prepare.
How to Make Sophia Loren’s Penne Alla Puttanesca
Sophia Loren pairs her puttanesca sauce with penne, hence why her recipe is called penne alla puttanesca. However, she says you can also use spaghetti or bucatini.
All you have to do is boil the pasta in water with a pinch of salt until it’s al dente. While that cooks, Loren uses a mortar and pestle to mash some garlic and anchovy filets together, but if you could also just finely chop them with a knife. Then, sauté that garlic and anchovy paste in some butter and oil in a skillet. Add chopped tomatoes, black olives and capers and let that all simmer for 15 minutes. Then toss in the pasta and garnish with some chopped fresh parsley. That’s all there is to it!
Although Sophia Loren was falsely quoted as having said “Everything you see I owe to spaghetti,” we definitely owe her for this penne alla puttanesca recipe. Buon appetito!
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