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Spaghetti with No-Cook Puttanesca

4.9

(15)

A serving bowl of pasta with tomatoes olives and capers.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Aneta Florczyk, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou

Tomato seeds and membranes can be a bit bitter, which is why we remove them from this uncooked preparation—it also prevents the sauce from being watery.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

2 beefsteak tomatoes (about 1 lb.), halved crosswise, seeds removed
2 garlic cloves, finely grated
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 tsp. kosher salt, plus more
1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup Castelvetrano olives, crushed, pits removed
2 Tbsp. drained capers
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
12 oz. spaghetti
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Pulse beefsteak tomatoes, garlic, red pepper flakes, and 2 tsp. salt in a food processor until smooth; transfer sauce to a large bowl and mix in cherry tomatoes, olives, capers, and 1/4 cup oil.

    Step 2

    Cook spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1/4 cup pasta cooking liquid.

    Step 3

    Add pasta, parsley, and butter to sauce. Toss vigorously with tongs, adding a splash of pasta cooking liquid or more as needed to create an emulsified sauce that coats pasta. Divide among bowls and drizzle with more oil.

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