Tuna Puttanesca Spaghetti Squash

I must be going through a spicy phase. Today for lunch I made a spicy puttanesca sauce to pour over spaghetti squash. The first time I heard of puttanesca sauce was on a Rachael Ray show. She had a colorful story about how certain ladies would put a pot of this intoxicating sauce in the window to draw people in. Traditional puttanesca sauce begins with melting anchovies, garlic and red pepper flakes into olive oil. It is delicious! But it was also Rachael Ray who I first saw substitute tuna for the anchovies. It bumped up the protein in the sauce, by the way also delicious. I have been making both for years. I have made Rachael Ray's recipes, I have made my own one pot pasta, I even made a Tuna Salad Puttanesca Style. It was just recently that I thought about serving it over spaghetti squash. I made it chunky style using no salt added diced tomatoes with garlic, oregano and basil. After all the other ingredients like tuna, olives and capers will add a saltiness to the sauce. It turned out delicious. I used 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes and it is nice and spicy. If you are sensitive to spicy you might start with 1/4 teaspoon and add more after tasting. I love the vermouth because it adds a herb note in the background, but you can always use a little white wine if that is what you have on hand. Don't be afraid of the tuna; this sauce is not fishy, it is just spicy, savory and delicious. I hope you will give it a try. Besides you never know who might follow the aromas to your kitchen?

Tuna Puttanesca Spaghetti Squash

Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

1 small spaghetti squash

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1/4 to 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes (to taste)

2 garlic cloves, minced

5 oz. can tuna, drained

1 oz. vermouth

14.5 oz. can no salt added diced tomatoes with garlic, oregano and basil

2.25 oz. can sliced black olives, drained

2 tsp. capers, drained

Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

Parmesan cheese, shredded

Directions

To prepare spaghetti squash: Cut squash in half. Scoop out seeds and discard. Place cut side down in a microwave safe dish, add 1/4 cup of water and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave for 7 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes. When squash is cool enough to handle, pull the squash into spaghetti like threads. Season with salt and pepper.

Heat a 2 quart saucepan over medium high heat. Add olive oil, red pepper and garlic; sauté until fragrant. Add tuna and stir breaking up any large pieces. Add vermouth, tomatoes, olives and capers. Season with black pepper and simmer about 10 minutes. Serve over spaghetti squash and garnish with parmesan cheese.

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