Recipe: Saucy Puttanesca Bow Tie Dinner

This spicy and flavor-packed classic is so tasty you won't need to fill up - just a small serving will be enough to satisfy!  And it's super fast and easy to make. (Feel free to omit the anchovy paste if you like - I've never used it, and it's delicious without it.)

Saucy Puttanesca Bow Tie Dinner
(Serves 4.)

Ingredients:

1 pkg (8 oz) bow tie pasta (farfalle)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cup onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp anchovy paste
1 can (35 oz) diced tomatoes
1 Tbsp capers
1/4 cup sliced black olives
salt and pepper to taste
freshly grated Parmesan cheese for topping (optional)

Directions:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of water with salt according to package directions, making sure you don't overcook; drain well, return to pot to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, in a large deep skillet, put the olive oil over medium heat, add onion and cook for 4 or 5 minutes, stirring, until onion begins to get soft and transparent.
• Into the skillet, add garlic, cayenne pepper, and anchovy paste, stir and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Add the diced tomatoes, capers, and olives to the skillet, stir and cook just until heated through.
• Taste for seasonings and add salt and pepper to taste. Anchovy paste is quite salty, so you may not need to salt.  Be sure to taste first.
• To serve, pile pasta on plates or in bowls and spoon hot sauce over the top. Grate Parmesan cheese on top if desired.