Spaghetti Puttanesca with Tuna - Recipe of the Week #7

Nonna Antoinette
May 22, 2022
3 min read

Ciao belli! Hello beautiful friends!

This week flew by for me because I spent it with two of my three kids, away to Niagara Falls!

I have always wanted to go, but life constantly got in the way. But, what I’ve learned from my personal experiences is to never put off something enjoyable, especially if done with your family.

You see, I have been widowed twice. Both my husbands died suddenly and unexpectedly. Both very kind, strong, lean, muscular, “healthy” men. Both way too young to be gone from this world.

We had plans, we had dreams. We got to experience some happy times but we were waiting for early retirement to see the world, to move to warmer climate, to enjoy our kids and grandkids full time.

Well, I didn’t get the chance to do that with either of my husbands, but I’m not giving up on life. I’m going to try to do as much as I can in the time I have left in this world.

We all have trials. Life is not traveled on a paved road. Life is traveled on a road with lots of potholes. Some potholes are deeper than others. Some are easier to get out of than others. A few can be avoided if one is focused. But the worst ones are the ones you don’t see coming up. Those do the most damage!

We, as people, have a strong survival instinct. We do the best we can to keep going. And, with God’s help, that’s what I plan on doing.

Stay positive my friends, even when things don’t look so good. Tomorrow is another day, a new chance to enjoy something new and exciting. And never lose hope!

Now, on a much lighter note, my recipe of the week. It is dedicated to both my late husbands who LOVED pasta!

I hope you enjoy my Spaghetti Puttanesca with Tuna. It’s a perfect recipe for the summer months. It is also very quick and easy to make for those nights when you’re rushing to put dinner on the table.

Have a great week and a wonderful Memorial Day weekend ahead!

See you again soon, as always, in my kitchen.

Bacioni (big kisses),

Nonna Antoinette

SPAGHETTI PUTTANESCA WITH TUNA

Ingredients:

1 lb spaghetti
2 pints cherry tomatoes, washed and cut in half
2 cans solid white tuna, NOT drained
25 pitted calamata olives, sliced into rounds
1 tbsp capers
4 anchovy fillets, cut up in small pieces (optional)
4 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 garlic cloves, chopped
Hot pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste.

Directions:

Begin by cooking the spaghetti according to package directions.
While you’re waiting for the pot to come to a boil, start making the sauce.
In a large sauté pan, add olive oil, garlic, hot pepper flakes and anchovies (if using).
Place on medium heat and stir until garlic is lightly golden.
Add olive rounds and capers. Stir for a few seconds.
Add cut tomatoes and salt. Stir and lower heat to a gentle simmer. Cook for 5 minutes.
Add tuna, including its liquid. Stir and adjust seasoning.
Cook for 2 more minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside.
Drain spaghetti al dente but reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
If the sauce seems a bit dry, add some of the reserved pasta water.
Place spaghetti in the sauce pan and stir until all pasta is coated.
Turn flame on medium and continue stirring the spaghetti for a couple of minutes so that they absorb the delicious sauce.
You may add a sprinkle of black pepper if you’d like.
Serve hot making sure to divide the tuna and sauce equally on each plate.