• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sprinkles and Sprouts

Great food with grocery store ingredients

  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
Home > Meal Type > Pasta Recipes > Spaghetti alla Puttanesca (Pasta Puttanesca)

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca (Pasta Puttanesca)

Updated: Feb 17th 2020 • Published: Jan 10th 2020 • Leave a Comment

Jump to recipe button JUMP TO RECIPE
JUMP TO VIDEO
close up on pasta puttanesca with text at the bottom
close up on pasta puttanesca with text at the top
close up on pasta puttanesca with text at the top
close up on pasta puttanesca with text at the top
a fork laying in a dish of spaghetti with text at the top
overhead view of a pasta puttanesca bowl with text at the top
a fork swirling tomato olive spaghetti with text at the top
overhead view of a pasta puttanesca bowl with text at the top
a white bowl of spaghetti with tomato and olive with text at the top
a white bowl of spaghetti with tomato and olive with text at the top and bottom
a fork laying in a dish of spaghetti with text at the top and bottom
overhead view of a pasta puttanesca bowl with text at the top and bottom
close up on pasta puttanesca with text at the bottom
a white bowl of spaghetti with tomato and olive with text at the top
close up on pasta puttanesca with text at the bottom
a fork swirling tomato olive spaghetti with text at the top
a fork laying in a dish of spaghetti with text at the top
overhead view of a pasta puttanesca bowl with text at the top
two pictures of pasta puttanesca with text in the middle
two pictures of pasta puttanesca with text in the middle
two pictures of pasta puttanesca with text in the middle
two pictures of pasta puttanesca with text in the middle
overhead view of a pasta puttanesca bowl with text at the top
overhead view of a pasta puttanesca bowl with text at the top and bottom
a fork laying in a dish of spaghetti with text at the top and bottom

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca is a quick and easy recipe that can be on the table in 20 minutes and tastes as if it came from your favorite Italian restaurant.

The easy sauce is a mixture of tomatoes, garlic, olives, and one secret ingredient (well, I keep it a secret from the kids) that turns your pasta from good to fantastic!

This Neapolitan Pasta Puttanesca is packed full of robust Italian flavors and can be made with just a handful of ingredients. So grab your spaghetti and give it a go.

an upright fork swirling tomato olive pasta

Jump Menu

  • What is Spaghetti alla Puttanesca?
  • Pasta Puttanesca recipe without anchovies
  • Key ingredients in Spaghetti alla Puttanesca
  • How to make Spaghetti alla Puttanesca
  • What to serve with Pasta Puttanesca
  • Pasta Puttanesca Wine Pairing
  • Spaghetti alla Puttanesca

What is Spaghetti alla Puttanesca?

Puttanesca is a vibrant, robust Italian sauce that is quick to cook and easy to make. It is said to be the pasta that women of the night cooked because it is quick to cook and doesn’t need a trip to the markets.

But that also makes it an excellent recipe for a family midweek meal, when the fridge is a little empty, and the kids are in “I’m Totally Starving Mummy” mode.

It is a tomato-based sauce that starts with plenty of olive oil, garlic, and the secret ingredient – anchovies.

ANCHOVIES!!! Do you hate anchovies? (my kids do!)

I know, those tiny little fish can split the nation! But here you cannot taste them, what they do is add a special something to the puttanesca sauce, which means it packs a flavor punch without any hint of fish.

When you add the anchovies to the garlic and olive oil, they almost melt away. What you are left with is an intensely flavored mixture that has that umami quality and leaves you licking your lips, but you don’t really know why.

Please don’t leave out the anchovies (or anchovy paste) at least try it once…just for me? Because I love pasta (that is why there are over 60 pasta recipes here on S&S) and I promise I would never steer you wrong.

Please give it a go…..my kids don’t notice the fish, and trust me, the youngest can spot a bit of broccoli floret pureed into pesto! 

If I can’t convince you to give it a go with the anchovy or you want to make this vegan/vegetarian, then I do have an anchovy free option for you in the next section.

Pasta Puttanesca recipe without anchovies

If anchovies are just never going near your pasta, then you can get a similar salty flavor hit by using capers instead. 

Some food historians suggest that the original dish from Campania didn’t include anchovies and that they were added to the recipe in Lazio, where the dish became a classic. 

Capers give you a briny salty tang that can replace the umami anchovies. I would suggest 1-2 tbsp of capers in place of the anchovy fillets/paste.

large bowl of spaghetti with tomatoes and olive with parmesan in the background

Key ingredients in Spaghetti alla Puttanesca

Tomatoes – Canned tomatoes, outside of Italy, can be watery, bland and sour. Use some fresh tomatoes and some crushed tomatoes to get the intense sweet tomato flavor that is important in this recipe.

Olives – I like the black olives (they are traditional for the Campania version, but green olives became part of the Lazio classic) 

Garlic – Lots of it! This is a robust dish that pulls those fresh Italian flavors together.

Olive Oil – again, there is a lot of it here, it is an essential flavor in the dish, so use your good stuff.

Pasta – Spaghetti is traditional, but linguine or any long pasta shape will be fine.

Pasta cooking water – a cup of the water the pasta cooked in, gives this sauce more flavor and helps the simple sauce stick to your pasta! (I mention pasta cooking water in nearly every pasta recipe….that is because it is an incredible free ingredient!!)

How to make Spaghetti alla Puttanesca

The pasta needs to go on first as the sauce takes around 5 minutes to make! 

Once the pasta is on sliced garlic is cooked over low heat in plenty of extra virgin olive oil, and then you add in the anchovy fillets or anchovy paste. This is stirred together to give a thick paste. 

To this chopped cherry tomatoes are added along with a couple of tablespoons of crushed tomatoes. This is simmered gently for a couple of minutes, and then the cooked pasta is added along with some pasta cooking water. This brings the sauce together and ensures every strand of the spaghetti is coated in puttanesca sauce.

a fork sideways in a bowl of pasta puttanesca

What to serve with Pasta Puttanesca

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca is about big, bold flavors so you can serve a simple side salad easily with the pasta, the simple dressing compliments the tomato-based sauce. 

Or add a pan-fried chicken breast or steak to the dish and use the pasta as more of a side option. My kids love it with oven-baked chicken schnitzel. 

Pasta Puttanesca Wine Pairing

This spaghetti is the perfect dish for pairing with a gusty Italian red! But one that isn’t too high in alcohol content. A barbera or zinfandel would be my reds of choice here. 

Or for those loving white wine, then go for something crisp like a falanghina or a verdicchio.

overhead of a white bowl of pasta puttanesca with basil and parmesan

Enjoy x

For more quick and easy pasta recipes try:

  • Garlic Butter Pasta with Garlic Chicken
  • Creamy Tomato Chicken Chorizo Pasta
  • Creamy Lemon Salmon Pasta
  • Shrimp Chorizo Pasta
  • Shrimp and Bacon Pasta
  • Pasta with Chicken Broth and Butter
  • Easy Garlic Bacon Pasta
  • Creamy Pepper Steak Pasta
  • Lemon Pepper Chicken Pasta
  • Creamy Chicken Chili Pasta
  • See ALL 60+ Pasta Recipes

RECIPE NEWSLETTER

Signup and get my FREE soup cookbook.

By clicking submit, you acknowledge that the information you provide will be processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Pin this recipe for Spaghetti alla Puttanesca. Pin it here.

close up on pasta puttanesca in a white bowl
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca is a quick and easy recipe that can be on the table in 20 minutes and tastes as if it came from your favorite Italian restaurant. The easy sauce is a mixture of tomatoes, garlic, olives, and one secret ingredient, anchovies (well I keep it a secret from the kids) that turns your pasta from good to fantastic! This Neapolitan Pasta Puttanesca is packed full of robust Italian flavors and is made with just a handful of ingredients. So grab your spaghetti and give it a go.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time20 mins
Course: Main
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4
Calories: 519kcal
Author: Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts
For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout
Need Metric Measurements?Use the options below to toggle between cups and grams (if relevant)
[wprm-prevent-sleep]

Ingredients

US Customary – Grams
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • 6 anchovy fillets or 2 tsp anchovy paste – see note 1
  • 1 cup stoned black olives – see note 2
  • 12 oz spaghetti
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • ¼ cup olive oil – see note 3
  • ½ cup crushed tomatoes or passata
  • fresh basil/parsley to serve
  • grated parmesan.

Instructions

  • Put a large pan of water on to boil. While the water is coming to a boil, prepare/chop the other ingredients and leave them on your chopping board ready for use. (see note 4)
  • Peel and thinly slice 6 garlic cloves.
  • Cut 1 cup of cherry tomatoes into halves (or quarter if large).
  • Roughly chop 6 anchovy fillets.
  • Chop 1 cup of stoned black olives. (See note 5)
  • Once the water has come to a boil, add 1 tbsp of salt and 12oz/340g of pasta. Stir to submerge the spaghetti and then cook for 1 minute less than the packet suggests. (Set your timer)
  • While the pasta is cooking, pour 1/4 cup of olive oil into a large frying pan and add the sliced garlic, cook over medium heat until the garlic is just starting to sizzle.
  • Add in the chopped anchovies and stir to dissolve them in the oil.
  • Add in the tomato halves and the chopped black olives. Turn the heat to medium-high and once sizzling add in the 1/2 cup of crushed tomatoes.
  • Bring to a simmer for 2 minutes and then turn the heat to low.
  • Reserve 2 cups of the pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta.
  • Add the pasta to the frying pan along with 1/2 cup of pasta water. Use tongs to turn and coat the pasta in the sauce.
  • Add more water as needed.
  • Check the seasoning (It shouldn’t need salt) and serve garnished with fresh herbs and parmesan if desired.

Notes

  1. Anchovy adds so much to this dish, but the result isn’t fishy, just delicious! But if you are serving vegetarians or you don’t want to use anchovy, then replace them with 2 tablespoons of drained roughly chopped capers.
  2. You can use green olives if you prefer.
  3. Use the best olive oil you can as the oil flavors the finished dish.
  4. You want to prepare and chop all of the veg before you start cooking as everything comes together quickly. Just cut each ingredient as directed and push to the sides of your chopping board.
  5. You can leave the olives chunky or chop them finely; this is down to personal preference. (I like them finely chopped)

Nutrition

Calories: 519kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 2540mg | Potassium: 424mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 380IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @sprinklesandsprouts or tag #sprinklesandsprouts

Find me on:
Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook 
Let’s share the food love and make the world a tastier place 🙂

Jump to recipe buttonFacebook share iconPinterest share icon

Filed Under: All Recipes, Main Dishes, Pasta Recipes

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Claire,

Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts

I believe cooking for those you love should be stress free and simple.

Here on Sprinkles and Sprouts you will find delicious meals all made with easy to find grocery store ingredients. Family friendly mains, sensational sides and delicious desserts. Plus a great selection of party food and appetizers.

Read More

RECIPE NEWSLETTER

Signup and get my FREE soup cookbook.

By clicking submit, you acknowledge that the information you provide will be processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Readers’ Favorites

Small close up of pasta in chicken broth braised celery in an oval white dish
a silver spoon dipping into a white bowl of hallandaise sauce tube pasta with a creamy steak sauce in a grey bowl
homemade flour tortilla on a sheet of baking paper close up on a chicken portion coated in peri peri seasonings
a small bowl of red salsa on a blue table close up on a sliced chicken breast with garlic spaghetti
small white bowl filled with linguine topped with shaved black truffle Beef and broccoli takeout style in a white bowl

Footer

All content, recipes and photographs are copyrighted to Claire McEwen and are the property of Sprinkles and Sprouts.
THEY MAY NOT BE REPUBLISHED IN PART OR WHOLE WITHOUT PERMISSION AND PROPER CREDIT.
Contact me to see republishing and syndication rights.

2014-2020 Sprinkles and Sprouts

  • Home
  • About Sprinkles and Sprouts
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact Me
  • Disclosure and Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Cravings Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in