Cravings of a Lunatic

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Hussy Pasta

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Hussy Pasta (Cravings of a Lunatic)

Got your attention?

Yah, I thought so!

This pasta is basically a riff on a simple Pasta Puttanesca. If you know what Pasta Puttanesca is it translates to whore’s pasta. It has salty tones in it from the capers and it has fragrant tones in it from the garlic. Typically most people make it with anchovies but this family is not huge fans of anchovies so I made some tweaks. We are huge fans of onions and shallots so I decided to swap those in for the anchovies. I figured it would give some additional kick to the sauce and let me tell you this gal loves a good kick in her sauce. As always I left out black pepper, my regulars know I abhor the stuff. If you like it feel free to toss some in. Just don’t invite me for dinner if you do.

While I still have your attention I’d like to let my fellow Canuck readers know that myself and Isabelle of Crumb are holding a fabulous giveaway thanks to Aurora Importing. We’re giving away 2 tickets to see Lidia Live in Toronto on February 10th. So if you are in or near the Toronto area please enter. Not only do you get to see Lidia but you can meet up with myself and Izzy. We’ll even pose for silly photos if you provide enough wine. Heck, forget the wine, we’ll hang out and take photos with you just for fun. It’s sure to be a blast. All I ask is everyone cross fingers for me since I’m making the 4 hour trek on the 401 to be there. If you would like to enter scroll on down to the bottom of the post to throw your hat in the ring.

I’d also like to invite you to stop by Aurora Importing to enter to win 1 of 3 signed copies of Lidia’s Favorite Recipes. This is her newest cookbook and I’m just itching to get my hands on a copy myself. Aurora Importing’s newest post is all about Lidia talking capers. So myself and Isabelle got in on the caper action. I have a recipe on their site right now called Caper and Chorizo Pizza. Isabelle from Crumb has a recipe on their site called Spaghetti al Limone with Fried Capers and Seared Scallops. If you scroll to the bottom we’ve got a little side contest going on to see whose recipe you all like better (mine) or Isabelle’s (don’t do it folks) and the stakes are us getting our own signed copy of Lidia’s cookbook. If you all can’t choose I say vote for both of us and maybe we’ll have a tie. That way maybe we’ll both get a book, or we can videotape ourselves arm wrestling for it. You decide (me), but really no pressure (mine) at all, just vote for who you want (me).

Okay so now that I’ve regaled you with shocking pasta titles and thrown down the arm wrestling gauntlet let’s get to the Hussy Pasta already.

pasta puttanesca

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Hussy Pasta

A simple and quick recipe for pasta puttanesca that is full of flavour.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 4 to 6

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil I used 3 regular and 1 basil infused oil
  • 1 sweet onion diced
  • 1 shallot diced
  • 1 head of garlic peeled and pressed
  • 14 oz chopped tomatoes or tomato sauce I opted sauce for speed
  • 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Pepper if desired blech!
  • 2 tablespoons capers rinsed and drained
  • 1 package spaghetti noodles cooked al dente
  • Parsley to taste

Instructions

  • In a large saute pan heat up your oil till it glistens.
  • Toss in your onions and shallots and cook over a medium low heat till they start to go a bit gold. Should take between 12 to 15 minutes depending on your heat. Feel free to add more olive oil if needed.
  • Once the onions and shallots are golden, add the garlic and cook for another 2 or 3 minutes.
  • Pop a large stockpot full of water on the stove and bring to a boil over high heat.
  • Now add the tomatoes or sauce, whichever you prefer. Continue to cook over a medium low heat till it bubbles up.
  • Add the spices and mix well. Once it is really bubbling, reduce the heat and let simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure to check back and stir it every few minutes.
  • Once your stock pot water is bubbling, turn it down to a medium low heat, add salt to flavour the water. Now toss your noodles in. I always give them a swirl as I drop them so they sort of separate as the go into the water. Cook them for 1 minute less than the package calls for.
  • Scoop out a cup full of the pasta water to reserve for your sauce. Now drain your noodles but DO NOT RINSE. There is flavour in that, don't put the flavour down your drain people.
  • Pop the noodles into the pan of sauce. Stir really well and let it come together. If needed add some pasta water and let the pasta thicken over a low heat for a minute or two, stirring to make it all become one.
  • You can add more pasta water if needed. Use your judgement on this. Start with a little and work your way up. You can always add more, but you can't take away. Good rule of thumb.
  • Once the pasta is mixed up well toss the parsley over it.
  • Serve with a big old Hussy smile!

Notes

Feel free to dial back the garlic. We love garlic here so a head is no biggie in our household. It may be too much for some people.
You can also dial back the onions or red pepper flakes if you want less kick.
Add anchovies or olives if you like them. They are usually in puttanesca.

Pasta Puttanesca aka Hussy Pasta

To enter to win 2 tickets to see Lidia Live in Toronto on February 10th you must leave a blog comment below telling me what your favourite kind of pasta is. Easy peasy!

For additional entries you can do any or all of the following:

Leave a comment on Aurora Importing’s post. Make sure you pop back here and leave a comment saying you did so.

Follow Cravings of a Lunatic by email. Button that says Subscribe via email. Leave a comment with your email addy so I can verify.

Follow Isabelle from Crumb by RSS. Leave a comment here letting me know you did so.

Like Aurora Importing on Facebook. Stop back here to let me know you did so.

Like Cravings of a Lunatic on Facebook. Stop back here to let me know you did so.

Follow Isabelle of Crumb on Flickr. Stop back here to let me know you did so.

Follow Aurora Importing on Twitter. Stop back here to let me know you did so.

Follow Cravings of a Lunatic on Twitter. Stop back here to let me know you did so.

Follow Isabelle from Crumb on Twitter. Stop back here to let me know you did so.

Follow me on Pinterest. Stop back here to let me know you did so.

Follow Isabelle from Crumb on Pinterest. Stop back here to let me know you did so.

Follow Aurora Importing’s Youtube channel. Stop back here to let me know you did so.

Tweet about the giveaway. Make sure you tag @AuroraImporting, @CravingsLunatic and @Izzbell in the tweet. You’ll have to get creative to fit it all in.

Stop by Aurora Importing and tell them which of the two recipes you like better (mine). If you like mine (you totally should) or Izzy’s (not mine, don’t do it) just shout it out on their page. Then pop back here and let me know you voted. I promise I won’t go check to see who you voted for until this is over. I wouldn’t want to sway (me) the vote (me) or anything (me), that would be wrong (Izz). I would never do such a thing (vote for Kim).

Contest is open to Canadians. Contest ends this Friday, February 8th at 5 pm. Please make sure you include contact info in case you win. We will contact you at precisely 5:05 pm on Friday so you have time to make plans and dust off your best get into trouble shoes. Draw will be done by random.org. If winner does not respond by midnight Friday evening we will have to redraw since the event is Sunday. As always please leave additional comments for each entry otherwise they count as one entry. More comments, more entries. It’s drawn by a random number generator so each comment counts as one entry!

Giveaway winner is Chelsea, entry #25. Congrats to Chelsea and thank you to everyone who entered.

Okay so go vote for me. Not Izz!

Toodles and smoochies! xx

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Comments

  15. ita-liana says

    ahhhh, and the race is on!! This is going to be fun….but what a tough decision! Pizza or Pasta!!!??? Especially these 2 lovely versions you and Izz came up with! Ayayayayay, let the games begin! Great post Kim. Lovin’ the love!

    Reply

  17. Stacy says

    I understand this will be riotous weekend terrorizing Toronto, so it’s good that you’ve warned folks you are coming. 🙂 Nigella’s Slut Pasta is one of my favorites and I like your rendition with the extra onions and shallots.

    Not that I am anywhere close by, but I’m curious. You’d let an expat win the tickets, right? If they lived nearby but weren’t Canadian?

    Reply

  20. Niya says

    My favourite pasta has to be the ultra creamy comforting carbonara my best friends mom makes for sleepover brunches. It’s perfection. I’ve also done all of the following:

    * Followed Cravings of a Lunatic by email. Button that says Subscribe via email – i’m twilight.sapphire [at] gmail [dot] com
    * Followed Isabelle from Crumb by RSS.
    * Followed Aurora Importing on Twitter. I’m @destiniya
    * Followed Cravings of a Lunatic on Twitter.
    * Followed Isabelle from Crumb on Twitter.
    * Tweeted about the giveaway & tagged @AuroraImporting, @CravingsLunatic and @Izzbell in the tweet.

    Reply

    • Kim Bee says

      Hey Niya. The draw is done by a number generator so if you leave the comments all in one spot it will only count as one entry. Sorry about that. But it’s the easiest way for me to draw a number. If you want extra entries just pop back and leave the others. I’ll be installing a new giveaway widget this week that will make this stuff way easier. But I wanted to give you a heads up in case you want to make the most of your entry. Kim

      Reply

  23. Chelsea says

    Favourite pasta: Black Farfalle with Nova Scotia Lobster & Basil Breadcrumbs from one of my favourite restaurants!

    For additional entires, I have also:

    1. Followed Cravings of a Lunatic via email. I have an @rogers.com address.
    2. Followed Aurora Importing on Twitter.
    3. Followed Cravings of a Lunatic on Twitter.
    4. Followed Isabelle from Crumb on Twitter.
    5. Tweeted about the giveaway & tagged @AuroraImporting, @CravingsLunatic and @Izzbell in the tweet. *My twitter handle is @cfcboote.
    6. I have also voted on the Aurora Importing site for my favourite recipe.

    Reply

    • Kim Bee says

      Hi Chelsea. The draw is done by a number generator so if you leave the comments all in one spot it will only count as one entry. Sorry about that. But it’s the easiest way for me to draw a number. If you want extra entries just pop back and leave the others. I’ll be installing a new giveaway widget this week that will make this stuff way easier. But I wanted to give you a heads up in case you want to make the most of your entry. Kim

      Reply

  28. Chelsea says

    Tweeted about the giveaway & tagged @AuroraImporting, @CravingsLunatic and @Izzbell in the tweet. *My twitter handle is @cfcboote.

    Reply

  31. Eileen says

    I would LOVE to win tickets to see Lidia live! I watch her all the time on tv and love italian foods, all of it!!!! Especially love Lidia and her daughter doing the sausage with peppers mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm One of my all time favorites, we make it all the time at our house!

    Reply

  32. rose says

    Love the name of the pasta its sounds frisky. Never thought of eliminating anchovies and putting capers in since I dont like seafood. I must say Lidia you are a fantastic cook everything you do is awsome and seems so easy and you do it with love, but you have to admit the Aurora products make a difference in the cooking without them it wouldn’t taste so Good!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  33. rose says

    Love the name of the pasta. Never thought of eliminating anchovies and putting capers in since I dont like seafood. I must say Lidia you are a fantastic cook everything you do is awsome and seems so easy and you do it with love, but you have to admit the Aurora products make a difference in the cooking without them it wouldn’t taste so Good!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  34. Sandra's Easy Cooking says

    I just came for that mouthwatering pasta…no offence to Lidia, but do you have a two tickets to your kitchen because I would love to come! hehehe
    Great recipe with amazing pics, and wonderful giveaway!!!!

    Reply

  42. Sabrina Iorio says

    My favourite pasta would have to be spaguetti primavera OR Lidia’s hussy pasta 🙂
    Also, I follow Lidia on youtube via Sabrina I. and I also follow Aurora via Sabrina Minogue Iorio,

    Mille grazieee

    Reply

  44. John J says

    Favourite is homemade lasagna.
    I followed Isabelle from Crumb by email
    Liked Aurora in Facebook
    Liked Cravings of a Lunatic.

    Would love to see Lidia Live in Toronto!!!

    Reply

  45. Steven Sinclair says

    My favourite pasta is pappardelle bolognese….so simple yet so yummy…I eat it at least 3 times a week!! I followed and liked everything I could!

    Reply

  63. FLaure says

    Merci pour cette recette faite il y a quelques jours. Nous avons beaucoup aimé. Ma préparation est sur mon blog depuis ce matin.
    Bonne semaine, FLaure

    Reply

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