Pasta Puttanesca (Neapolitan Anchovy Olive Caper Tomato Sauce)

Name: Pasta Puttanesca (Neapolitan Anchovy Olive Caper Tomato Sauce)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: Spaghetti 200 g; Whole peeled tomatoes 400 g; Black olives 80 g; Capers 2 tbsp; Anchovy fillets 4 piece; Garlic 3 clove; Peperoncino 1 piece; Olive oil 3 tbsp; Parsley 10 g

Quick answer

Total time: 30 min
Level: Easy
Servings: 2 servings
Ingredients: 9

About this dish

Four anchovy fillets melt into the garlic oil over medium-low heat until nothing fish-shaped is left, only a savory base under the tomatoes.

Halved black olives and capers follow, and between them and the anchovies the sauce rarely needs added salt. The risk lies in reduction: when the sauce thickens too fast its saltiness turns sharp, and lowering the heat then does more good than simmering longer.

Ingredients

servings

IngredientAmount

Spaghetti

Amazon.comSearch

Whole peeled tomatoes

Anchovy fillets4 piece

Garlic3 clove

Peperoncino1 piece

As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

6 steps

1

Slice the 3 garlic cloves thinly and halve the 80 g black olives so they release flavor quickly.

Drain the 2 tablespoons capers well, then chop the 10 g parsley finely for finishing.
2

Add 3 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, 1 peperoncino, and 4 anchovy fillets to a pan.

Warm over medium-low heat for about 2 minutes, pressing the anchovies until they dissolve without browning the garlic.
3

Crush the 400 g whole peeled tomatoes by hand or with a spoon and add them to the pan.

Raise to medium heat and simmer about 10 minutes, until bubbling at the edges and slightly thickened.
4

Stir in the olives and capers, then simmer 5 more minutes over medium-low heat.

If the sauce reduces too fast or tastes sharply salty, lower the heat rather than adding extra seasoning.
5

Cook 200 g spaghetti until al dente, about 1 minute less than the package time.

Transfer the pasta directly into the sauce and toss over medium heat for 1 minute so the noodles absorb the tomato base.
6

Turn off the heat and check that the sauce coats the pasta evenly.

Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve immediately.