The Best Pantry Staple
Here is a classic BIG-flavor dish that takes a short amount of time to prepare, Pasta Puttanesca. The word puttan means worthless, or throw-away, in Italian and several other languages. The dish was named puttanesca because the ingredients were all a chef had left in his pantry one night. Just the leftover items from a busy day in the kitchen. I’d say he discovered a pretty terrific combination! Fresh herbs, lots of briny olives and capers, tomatoes… What’s not to love?
Protein and Pasta Forever
You could serve this as a vegetarian dish. Many people do. However, every time I come across a vegetarian dish, I think to myself, “You know what would be great with this? STEAK!” So here it is my rendition of Pasta Puttanesca with New York Strips and Crispy Basil. New York Strips Steaks offers a rich meaty flavor that is more than capable of standing up to the bold flavors in Puttanesca sauce.
What Ingredients You Will Need
New York Strip Steaks – about 1- to 1 1/4-inch thick (or Ribeye Steaks)Unsalted ButterOlive Oil – dividedRoughly Chopped Fresh BasilSalt and PepperDried Pasta – Strascinati, Orecchiette, or even Spaghetti will do!Olive OilLarge Minced Garlic ClovesChopped Italian ParsleyPitted Kalamata OlivesCapersAnchovy Paste – or minced anchovy filletsDried OreganoCrushed Red Pepper FlakesDiced TomatoesFresh Arugula or Spinach LeavesParmesan – for garnish
How To Make This Pasta Puttanesca Recipe
Preparation: Boil the pasta in a large pot, as directed on the package. Drain and set aside. Instructions: Pro Tip: You can serve each person a whole steak, but for my family, I usually just buy 2 large steaks and slice them on the bias. I fan them out next to the pasta. Serve the steaks drizzled with pan juices and topped with crispy basil leaves!
Tips and Tricks
Save a skillet! If you are not in a hurry, you can make both the steaks and the sauce in one skillet to reduce clean-up. Basil, along with other herbs, pop when you fry them because of their high moisture content. Be sure to step back when you drop them in the pan.
Get the Full (Printable) Pasta Puttanesca Recipe with New York Strip Steak Recipe Below. Enjoy!
How Long Do Leftovers Last In The Fridge?
These leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and placed in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Why Is My Steak Not Cooking Properly?
If your steaks are thicker than 1 1/2 inches, it can be hard to pan-sear them perfectly. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F. Then sear the first side for 4 minutes. Turn the steaks over and place the pan in the oven for about 6 minutes for medium-rare. This will ensure you don’t have a crispy outside and raw inside!
What Does Puttanesca Mean in Italian?
This name derives from the Italian word ‘putanna’ which means whore. So this puttanesca mean “in the style of the whore”. There are stories about Puttanesca being a late-night up-to-no-good sort of meal. Think of it as the Italian version of hitting Waffle House at 3 am. wink
What Can I Top This Pasta With?
Like most Italian Dishes, grated parmesan cheese would go great with this pasta, along with cracked black pepper. The crispy basil leaves are a fabulous garnish, do not skip them!
Looking for More Easy Italian-Inspired Recipes?
Oven-Baked Meatballs (Old School Italian Meatballs)Roasted Red Pepper MarinaraFresh Tomato and Sausage RaguRustic Ribollita (Tuscan White Bean Soup)Stacked Tomato SaladBalsamic Roasted Cherry Tomatoes (with pasta)
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