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Cheat’s spaghetti puttanesca

Name: Cheat’s spaghetti puttanesca
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: Serves 2
Cuisine: Italian recipes
Ingredients: 200g spaghetti; ¼ olive or plain ciabatta, whizzed into crumbs; Small handful fresh thyme leaves; ½ x 200g pack ready-sliced red; onion, or 1 red onion, finely sliced; 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped; Pinch of chilli flakes; 6 anchovy fillets in olive oil, drained and finely chopped; 100g semi-dried tomatoes, halved; 100g pitted kalamata olives

Published: 30 Apr 10
Updated: 12 Mar 25

A quick and easy spicy pasta recipe that’s ready in 25 minutes and made using mostly ingredients you’ll have in your storecupboard at home.

Easy
May 2010

Test kitchen approved

Serves 2
Takes 10 min to make, 15 min to cook

A quick and easy spicy pasta recipe that’s ready in 25 minutes and made using mostly ingredients you’ll have in your storecupboard at home.

Dairy-free

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Ingredients

200g spaghetti
¼ olive or plain ciabatta, whizzed into crumbs
Small handful fresh thyme leaves
½ x 200g pack ready-sliced red
onion, or 1 red onion, finely sliced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
Pinch of chilli flakes
6 anchovy fillets in olive oil, drained and finely chopped
100g semi-dried tomatoes, halved
100g pitted kalamata olives

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Method

Preheat the grill to medium. Tip the spaghetti into a large pan of boiling salted water and cook according to the packet instructions until al dente. Drain, drizzle with olive oil and set aside.
Meanwhile, place the ciabatta crumbs on a lined baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tbsp olive oil, scatter with the thyme leaves, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and grill for a few minutes until golden and crisp. Remove from the grill and set aside.
Place 2 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan, add the sliced onion and fry over a medium heat until softened but not coloured. Add the garlic, chilli and anchovies and fry for 1 minute. Add the semi-dried tomatoes and olives and warm through for 1-2 minutes. Toss the spaghetti in the sauce and mix well to coat. Serve scattered with the ciabatta crumbs.