Pasta alla Pizzaiola Recipe from Puglia (Salentina).
Pennoni alla Pizzaiola Salentina.
Pasta alla Pizzaiola is a simple but delicious Southern Italian pasta recipe inspired by pizza marinara, hence the name! Although, most definitely of Neapolitan origin, slightly different versions of alla pizzaiola are traditional in Basilicata, Sicily and Campania. This recipe is the version from Salento, Puglia.
A little alla Pizzaiola history.
Many food historians say that pasta alla pizzaiola actually started as a meat sauce, the leftovers of which were used as a pasta condiment. Cooking meat in what is actually marinara pizza sauce was a way for poorer people to make low quality cuts of meat tastier and more edible. This dish was also very popular in the post war period when good quality meat was hard to come by.
Although not an item on many restaurant menus, meat with pizzaiola sauce is still very popular in Southern Italy. The meat, which is traditionally veal or beef slices, is cooked in the actual sauce. And as mentioned above, many people use some of the sauce on pasta in order to have a two course meal.
This practice is popular among Southern Italians. For example, most Italians don’t eat spaghetti with meatballs. They serve the sauce with pasta as a first course, and eat the meatballs separately as a main course or ‘secondo’. The same is true for recipes like braciole (beef rolls).
Nowadays, there are also many alla pizzaiola recipes with other types of meat such as chicken or with fish, for example swordfish or tuna. Some Italians roll the meat into involtini or braciole. In addition, there are some veggies served this way. Potatoes alla pizzaiola is a traditional recipe in Palermo, Sicily.
Marinara sauce.
Over time, it has become popular to make alla pizzaiola specifically for pasta, without cooking meat as well. In Naples and the rest of Campania, whether made with meat or just for pasta, alla pizzaiola sauce is usually simply marinara sauce. This is a super simple sauce made with just olive oil, garlic, tomatoes and oregano.
The name ‘marinara’ derives from the fact that marinara pizza was a popular food among sailors (marinai) during the 18th century. The ingredients were easily conservable and perfect for long sea voyages.
Different versions of pasta alla pizzaiola.
When making alla pizzaiola just as a pasta sauce, many Southern Italians add other ingredients. This version from Salento includes capers and anchovies. I also added some fresh mozzarella just before serving. It’s possible to bake pasta alla pizzaiola (al forno), which is what I did with the leftovers. So, I actually got two pasta meals out of one preparation! You can also choose to just bake this dish.
I found a number of recipes that also included olives or parsley or basil or peperoncino (red chili). In my opinion, this is a recipe you can slightly play around with, as the Italians do. However, in general the basic sauce remains tomatoes (fresh and/or passata), a generous sprinkling of oregano and garlic.
The pasta
Traditionally, Italians eat pasta alla pizzaiola either with a long pasta such as spaghetti or bucatini, or with short penne or pennoni. Pennoni are giant penne. I used pennoni di Gragnano from a company called Il vecchio pastificio di Gragnano.
As I have mentioned in other posts, pasta di Gragnano is fantastic pasta from a town near Naples called, of course, Gragnano. There are a number of different pasta companies there. This pasta is made according to strict regulations and is really excellent quality. Look out for it when you’re shopping!
If you do try this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think. Please write a comment here on the blog or post a comment on the Pasta Project Facebook page.
Your feedback means a lot to me!
Buon appetito!
Other pasta recipes from Puglia on The Pasta Project
- Orecchiette with meatballs
- Baked pasta alla Tranese
- Orecchiette with rapini (cime di rapa)
- Pasta with braciole alla Barese (beef rolls)
- Cavatelli pasta with rocket (arugula)
Save this recipe for later?
If you want to save this recipe for later, you can print it, bookmark this page or save it to Pinterest.
Pasta alla Pizzaiola Recipe from Puglia
Ingredients
- 400 g pennoni pasta (14oz) or other pasta of your choice
- 500 g tomato passata (17oz) or canned peeled tomatoes
- 12 cherry tomatoes (optional)
- 250 g fresh mozzarella (9oz) double the mozzarella if you plan to bake before serving
- 1-2 garlic cloves peeled
- 1-2 anchovy fillets (salted or preserved in oil) leave out for vegetarian option
- 1-2 teaspoon oregano dried or 2-4 teaspoon fresh
- salt for pasta and to taste
- 3-4 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon capers (salted or preserved in vinegar)
Instructions
- If using salted capers rinse under running water. If using cherry tomatoes wash them and cut into halves. Peel the garlic.
- Put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta. Add salt when it starts to boil and bring to the boil again.
- In a high-sided skillet or frying pan, sauté the garlic cloves, the anchovy fillets, the capers and the cherry tomatoes together with the olive oil. After a few minutes, once the anchovies have melted, add the tomato passata.
- Cook over a medium heat for about fifteen minutes. When half cooked, add salt to taste and sprinkle with the oregano, leave to simmer and flavor for 10 more minutes. Remove the garlic.
- In the meantime, cut the mozzarella into small pieces and then cook the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the packet.
- Remove some of the sauce from the pan. When it’s cooked, drain the pasta and add to the skillet/frying pan with the sauce. Mix everything together well to distribute the sauce evenly. Plate the pasta after putting a nice spoonful of the saved sauce in the bottom of the bowl/plate.
- Put some mozzarella pieces onto the pasta before serving.
To bake your pasta alla pizzaiola
- Transfer the pasta mixed with the sauce to a buttered oven dish. Cover the top with mozzarella slices and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C until the top starts to crisp and the mozzarella melts and browns slightly!
Notes
Nutrition
Pin for Later
michele says
I love anchovies and capers, and I really enjoyed the bold flavours, perfect for a simple dinner on a hot summer night, accompanied by a salad. I didn't have mozarella, so just put some grated pecorino (hard) on top, and used frozen pasta scraps (maltagliati). I prepped the sauce ahead, which made for a very relaxing evening, aided by a chilled lighter red wine (Vernatsch from Alto Aldige). I will try it with the mozarella next time.
Tammy says
Oh what a beautiful and comforting meal! Beautiful post and recipe...I wish I could dig in!
UMA says
The pasta looks so good, I like that you gave the option for vegetarians also. Even I like the Mediterranian flavor too 🙂
GUNJAN C Dudani says
I am a big pasta lover and and practically live on it. Love this recipe. Trying it today!
Sophie says
This looks so so good. The classic tomato-based sauce with capers sounds like dream to me. Thanks for the recipe.
Stine Mari says
It looks really easy to make, although so flavorful. I love the extra flavor from the anchovies too. Great recipe!
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
I am always so excited to see all of your pasta recipes. I have so many of your recipes bookmarked, and this one is going to get bookmarked too! So excited to try it out!
Jere Cassidy says
Another great pasta dish. I love to hear of the dishes that are considered poor man's food because they are usually easy and very delicious. Such a hearty comfort food type of dish.
Denise says
This looks delicious. That mozzarella is calling my name! I love that this is a simple recipe but full of amazing flavor.
Bobbi Burleson says
Oh WOW that pasta looks and sounds amazing! I am low carb now so I will have to try to make this with a veggie pasta of some sort because it sounds delicious!
Jenni LeBaron says
I love that this Pasta alla pizzaiola recipe utilized two types of tomatoes and some anchovy fillets for extra umami! What a gorgeous pasta dish!
kita says
Pasta based on pizza? Um heck yeah. This sounds so comforting and delicious to make.
Sharon says
This recipe has the best of both worlds-pasta, lots of cheese and a pizza style sauce.
Kelly Anthony says
Simple ingredients yet bursting with flavor is my favorite kind of recipe. This pasta alla pizzaiola will be a winning dish at our house.
Bernice Hill says
This dish is a fine example of a simple Italian recipe that has stood the test of time because it is so flavourful. I could eat this dish any time of day, baked or not!
Amber says
The word marinara coming from sailors and their pizza is a little tid bit I havent heard before. This recipe looks really good and I tend to love any dish with capers!
Kelly Anthony says
This pasta alla pizzaiola recipe looks absolutely delicious. I love that it has simple ingredients but bursting with flavors.
Stephanie Simmons says
I love that this is inspired by pizza marina! It looks so incredibly delicious - just look at those yummy hunks of cheese!