Healthy. Tasty. Pasta.

Okay so i'm always trying to find new ideas for recipes, especially healthy ones. I got this recipe from the Food Network, which is by the way the best network ever. I could seriously sit in front of the t.v. for hours watching shows on that Network. Here is the recipe. Hope you enjoy. I put a picture of what Anchovy Paste looks like in case you don't know...cause I sure didn't know. I was looking for something in a glass bottle...I was wrong. So I ended up using my chopper to chop some anchovy fillets with some garlic and olive oil. I don't think anyone noticed.

Pasta Puttanesca

Ingredients

• 8 ounces whole-wheat thin spaghetti, vermicelli or angel hair
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 cup pitted chopped Spanish or Greek olives
• 2 tablespoons capers
• 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
• 1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, preferably "no salt added"
• 3/4 cup chopped fresh arugula
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 
  

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add pasta and cook.

2. While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over a medium flame. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. 

3. Add the parsley, olives, capers, anchovy paste, oregano and crushed red pepper to the skillet, and saute for 2 minutes more. 

4. Add the tomatoes and simmer for about 5 minutes. 

5. Stir in the arugula and simmer for 1 minute more, until the greens wilt slightly.

6. When the pasta is done, drain it and add it to the skillet, tossing it with the sauce to combine. 

7. Top with grated cheese.

I really enjoyed this dish. It was a healthy alternative to pasta with thick sauce that is full of calories. I did a few different things...I used my homemade anchovy paste instead of the real stuff. I used spinach instead of arugula inly because I was too cheap to spend the extra $3 on the arugula salad. Next time I make it I will used the real ingredients. I would probably use less parsley and oregano also. Overall it was great !! 

Christy