Pilchard Puttanesca

Pilchard Puttanesca

Spaghetti in a briny tomato-and-pilchard sauce with olives and chilli — a bold pantry dinner.

Total
30 min
Serves
4

A thrifty Italian pasta with bold flavor: spaghetti tossed with pilchards, garlic, chilli and tomato in a puttanesca spirit, sharpened with black olives and parmesan. The tinned fish melts into a savory, briny sauce that belies its humble cost. It's a pantry dinner with genuine character — proof that cheap can be delicious.

Ingredients

  • 300g Spaghetti
  • 1 tbls Olive Oil
  • 1 finely chopped Onion
  • 2 cloves minced Garlic
  • 1 Red Chilli
  • 1 tbls Tomato Puree
  • 425g Pilchards
  • 70g Black Olives
  • Shaved Parmesan

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta following pack instructions.
  2. Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and cook the onion, garlic and chilli for 3-4 mins to soften.
  3. Stir in the tomato puree and cook for 1 min, then add the pilchards with their sauce. Cook, breaking up the fish with a wooden spoon, then add the olives and continue to cook for a few more mins.
  4. Drain the pasta and add to the pan with 2-3 tbsp of the cooking water. Toss everything together well, then divide between plates and serve, scattered with Parmesan.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories
550
Protein
25 g
Fat
20 g
Carbs
70 g

Adapted from bbcgoodfood.com. Rewritten and re-photographed by MealIdeas.

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