When it comes to weeknight cooking, there’s a dance we do between having a hearty, home-cooked meal and just getting it on the table!! Many of us are too busy during the week to spend hours in the kitchen – cooking or cleaning up – which is why this one-pot pasta puttanesca dinner is perfect for a Wednesday. Or a Thursday. Or, really, any day!

Want my tips to getting it done fast so you can get to the business of eating it?

Tips for making One-Pot Pasta Puttanesca

The Pasta

Gluten-free pasta can get a bad rap and there’s a couple of reasons for this.

You need to pick a good pasta. My favorites are lentil or bean-based ones, as they bring some protein to the table. If you’ve tried a GF pasta that was too rubbery, too smooshy, or just not to your liking, don’t despair! There are hundreds of varieties out there so try different ones until you’ve met your new favorite.
Do NOT salt the water! Unlike wheat-based pastas, gluten-free ones are more prone to breaking down when salted while cooking. To prevent this, save the salt for the toppings, instead of adding it to the cooking water

Tapenade

I first discovered tapenade when I lived in the south of France my junior year of college. Who knew olives could produce such an amazing paste! Nowadays, you can find tapenade on the shelves (or deli sections) from Costco to Whole Foods – and everywhere in between! Some people like the chunky kind, while others are more prone to the smooth kind. You do you! Just note that some are more salty than others so add gradually as you taste. Also, traditional tapenade has anchovies in it so, if you’re vegan, you’ll want to check the labels.

Garlic

You may think 6 cloves of garlic is a lot for this recipe and you’d be right – it is! That’s because I have a rather unnatural fondness for the stuff. Granted, my husband is half Italian so maybe I have some sort of innate attraction to all things Italian – including garlic! If you are a more modest garlic-lover, I’d go with 4 cloves. If you’re not much of a fan, start with 2 (or omit). This recipe is flexible so feel free to adjust to your tastes.

This recipe is perfect for when you’re short on time but want something filling and delicious to put on the table. I hope you love it as much as we do!