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Fusilli alla vesuviana in a ceramic bowl with San Marzano tomato sauce, Gaeta olives, capers, and fresh basil

Fusilli alla Vesuviana (Neapolitan Tomato and Olive Pasta)

A pantry-driven Campanian pasta with San Marzano tomatoes, Gaeta olives, capers, and anchovies, finished with fresh basil.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 480

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 400 g fusilli (preferably bronze-die) standard or bronze-die
  • 1 tbsp coarse salt (for pasta water)
Vesuviana Sauce
  • 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves lightly crushed
  • 4 anchovy fillets in oil roughly chopped
  • 1 small dried peperoncino (or red chili flakes) or 1/4 tsp flakes
  • 400 g whole San Marzano tomatoes 1 standard can, crushed by hand
  • 80 g Gaeta olives, pitted or Kalamata olives
  • 2 tbsp capers salt-packed, rinsed; or brine-packed, drained
  • 10 fresh basil leaves torn, added off heat
  • to taste fine salt use sparingly
  • to taste freshly ground black pepper

Method
 

Cook the pasta
  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the coarse salt and the fusilli. Cook for 2 minutes less than the packet instructions so the pasta finishes in the sauce.
  2. Before draining, scoop out a ladleful (about 120 ml) of pasta water and set it aside.
Make the vesuviana sauce
  1. Heat the olive oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add the crushed garlic cloves and the peperoncino. Cook for 2 minutes until the garlic turns pale gold and the oil smells fragrant.
  2. Add the anchovy fillets and stir for about 1 minute until they dissolve into the oil completely.
  3. Add the hand-crushed tomatoes with their juices. Stir well, bring to a gentle simmer, and cook uncovered for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
  4. Add the pitted olives and rinsed capers. Stir and simmer for another 5 minutes. Taste before adding any salt.
  5. Remove and discard the garlic cloves if you prefer a milder finish, or leave them in for more intensity.
Finish and serve
  1. Drain the fusilli and add it directly to the skillet. Toss over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, adding splashes of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce until it coats every spiral.
  2. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the torn basil leaves and a turn of black pepper. Toss once more and plate immediately.

Notes

Salt-packed capers and Gaeta olives already carry enough sodium to season the whole dish. Taste the sauce before adding any extra salt or you'll over-season it.