Pasta Puttanesca is a bold, savory Italian dish made with spaghetti tossed in a punchy tomato-based sauce filled with garlic, olives, capers, and anchovies. This quick and flavorful pasta is perfect when you want a meal that’s both satisfying and full of character.
Pasta Puttanesca
Why This Pasta Puttanesca Is the Best
- Salty-Savory Goodness: Anchovies, olives, and capers create a deep, umami-rich flavor.
- Garlicky Tomato Sauce: Simmered just enough to coat the pasta perfectly.
- Ready in Minutes: A fast meal that tastes like it’s been simmering for hours.
- Classic Mediterranean Vibes: Simple pantry ingredients come together for a complex flavor profile.
Perfect for Any Occasion
Whether you’re making a weeknight dinner or an elegant dish for guests, Pasta Puttanesca is impressive yet effortless. It’s a go-to when your pantry is stocked but your fridge is bare.
Ingredient Notes
- Olive Oil: Provides a rich, silky base for sautéing and enhances the overall flavor of the sauce with fruity undertones.
- Yellow Onion: Adds sweetness and depth as it cooks down, forming the aromatic base of the sauce.
- Garlic: Infuses the dish with a bold, savory kick that pairs beautifully with the briny ingredients.
- Anchovy Filets: Melt into the oil to create a deep umami richness that defines the traditional puttanesca flavor.
- Crushed Tomatoes: Serve as the heart of the sauce, adding tang, body, and a rich tomato flavor.
- Dried Basil: Brings a subtle sweetness and herbaceous note that rounds out the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Crushed Red Pepper: Adds a gentle heat that builds as you eat, giving the sauce a spicy edge.
- Kalamata Olives: Provide a briny, slightly tangy bite that adds boldness and complexity to the dish.
- Capers: Add sharp, salty bursts that brighten and elevate the sauce with every bite.
- Spaghetti: The perfect pasta to hold the flavorful sauce, allowing every strand to be coated in the bold, savory blend.
Tips for Making the Best Pasta Puttanesca
- Use Good-Quality Anchovies: They melt into the oil and add incredible flavor without being fishy.
- Don’t Skip the Capers: Their briny bite adds brightness to the rich sauce.
- Simmer Gently: Let the sauce thicken slightly so it clings to every strand of spaghetti.
- Add Chili Flakes if You Like Heat: A little spice goes a long way in enhancing the flavors.
- Finish with Fresh Parsley: Adds a fresh contrast to the savory sauce.
Serving Suggestions
- With Crusty Bread: Great for mopping up extra sauce.
- With a Green Salad: Something crisp and light balances the richness.
- With a Glass of Sparkling Water or Lemon Soda: Cleanses the palate between bites.
- Topped with Extra Olives: For added texture and brininess.
A Must Try
Pasta Puttanesca is salty, garlicky, and full of attitude—a dish that’s both rustic and refined. It’s proof that with just a few ingredients, you can create something unforgettable. Fast, flavorful, and deeply satisfying, this pasta deserves a permanent spot in your recipe rotation.
Be sure to check out these other delicious dinner recipes!
Lemon Ricotta Pasta
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Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta
Creamy Sausage Pasta
Pasta Puttanesca
Pasta Puttanesca is a bold, briny classic made with anchovies, capers, olives, and garlic simmered in rich tomato sauce over tender spaghetti. A must-try!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. spaghetti
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/2 cup sliced kalamata olives
- 2 tablespoon capers
- 1 yellow onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 3 anchovy filets
Instructions
- Chop up the onion and mince the garlic to get started.
- In a large skillet, add the olive oil, onion, garlic, and anchovy filets. Cook everything over medium heat, stirring now and then, until the onions turn soft and the anchovies melt right into the mix.
- Next, pour in the crushed tomatoes and toss in the basil, red pepper flakes, sliced olives, and capers. Give it all a good stir, then let the sauce come to a gentle simmer.
- Once it starts bubbling, lower the heat and let it simmer away, stirring every so often while you get the pasta going.
- Bring a big pot of water to a boil. Once it’s rolling, drop in the spaghetti and cook it until it’s perfectly tender—about 7 minutes.
- Before draining, scoop out about 1/2 cup of that starchy pasta water and set it aside.
- Now, add the drained spaghetti to the skillet with the puttanesca sauce. If your skillet isn’t big enough, combine everything back in the large pot with the heat off.
- Stir it all together until the pasta is nicely coated in sauce. If it seems a little dry, just add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water to loosen things up.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
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Pasta Puttanesca