Tuna Puttanesca

Ingredients

• Salt
• 1 pound penne pasta
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 cans (about 5.5 to 6 ounces each) Italian tuna in oil or water, drained well
• 6 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• A generous handful black olives (Gaeta, kalamata or oil-cured), pitted and chopped
• 3 tablespoons capers, drained
• 1/3 cup white vermouth or 1/2 cup dry white wine - eyeball it
• 1 (28-ounce) can whole or diced tomatoes (recommended: San Marzano)
• A generous handful fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• Fresh ground black pepper
• Crusty bread

Directions

Place a large pot of water over high heat and bring up to a boil. Salt the water and cook penne to al dente.

Meanwhile, heat a large skillet with 3 turns of the pan extra-virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, cook a minute or 2, then add tuna and break it up with your spoon. Add olives and capers, cook a minute or 2 more, then add vermouth or white wine; stir and cook down a minute. If using whole tomatoes, place a colander over a bowl, crush up tomatoes with a wooden spoon, then add tomatoes and their juice to pan. Otherwise, stir in diced tomatoes and juice. Add parsley, zest and black pepper, then simmer the sauce a couple of minutes more.

Add a couple of ladles of starchy pasta-cooking water to the sauce. Drain pasta, add to the skillet and toss to coat. Serve with some nice crusty bread.