Penne with Salmon Puttanesca

• Recipe by Grace Parisi

A traditional puttanesca gets complex, savory flavor from olives, capers, tomatoes and anchovies (which essentially melt into the sauce). This version omits the anchovies in favor of salmon, which stays firm and makes for a heartier dish.

Ingredients

1. 3/4 pound penne rigate or other ridged tubular pasta
2. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3. 1 pound skinless center-cut salmon fillet in one piece
4. Salt and freshly ground pepper
5. 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
6. 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
7. 1 pint grape tomatoes
8. 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, coarsely chopped
9. 1 tablespoon drained capers, rinsed and coarsely chopped
10. 1/4 cup finely shredded basil leaves

Directions

1. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta until it’s barely al dente. Drain, reserving 11/4 cups of the cooking water.
2. Meanwhile, in a very large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Season the salmon with salt and pepper, add it to the skillet and cook over high heat until browned on both sides but not cooked through, about 6 minutes. Transfer the salmon to a plate and pour off the oil in the skillet.
3. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the skillet along with the garlic and crushed red pepper. Cook over moderate heat until the garlic is lightly browned in spots, about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and cook until just softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water and bring to a boil, gently crushing the tomatoes. Add the pasta, olives and capers and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until the liquid is slightly absorbed, about 2 minutes. Add the salmon to the skillet and break it up into chunks. Cook, tossing, until the salmon is nearly cooked through and the pasta is al dente, about 2 minutes; add more of the pasta cooking water if the sauce is dry. Stir in the basil, transfer the pasta to bowls and serve.