Penne Napoletana

Penne Napoletana, a quick & flavorful Italian pasta dish. Easy recipe using garlic, olives, & basil. Perfect weeknight dinner!

2.67 from 3 votes

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Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 30

Nutrition

Calories: 1822kcal

Author: Max Cozzi

Servings: 2

Ingredients

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
4-5 cloves garlic (minced)
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
½ cup kalamata olives (or any other olives)
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
½ cup fresh basil leaves
1 teaspoon salt (plus more for the pasta water)
½ cup parmesan (grated)
8 oz penne pasta (or fusilli or other short pasta)
¼ cup ricotta cheese (per serving, for garnish)

Instructions

Start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add the penne pasta and cook according to package directions, usually about 10 minutes. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water and drain. Set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, heat a large sauté or fry pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, and black pepper and sauté until just fragrant, about 1 minute.
Next, add the kalamata olives, tomato, basil leaves, salt, and Parmesan. Turn the heat to medium-low and simmer for 5-7 minutes while the pasta is boiling.
Lastly, add the cooked penne and reserved pasta water to the pan and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until the sauce is thickened and sticking to the pasta. Serve with a few dollops of ricotta cheese.

Video

Notes

Add up to an entire head of garlic for more flavor!

Course: date night, dinner, first course, lunch, Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: napoletana pasta, napoletana pasta recipe, napoletana pasta sauce, penne napoletana ingredients, penne napoletana recipe easy, penne napoletana sauce, penne napoli, traditional napolitana sauce recipe

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