Pasta Puttanesca (Neapolitan Anchovy Olive Caper Tomato Sauce)
Quick answer
- Total time
- 30 min
- Level
- Easy
- Servings
- 2 servings
- Ingredients
- 9
About this dish
Pasta puttanesca is a Neapolitan spaghetti dish made with anchovies, black olives, capers, whole tomatoes, garlic, and peperoncino.
Read more
For two servings, prepare 200g spaghetti, 400g canned whole tomatoes, 80g black olives, 2 tablespoons capers, 4 anchovy fillets, and 3 garlic cloves. Slice the garlic thinly, halve the olives so they release their flavor into the sauce, and drain the capers. Put 3 tablespoons olive oil, the garlic, one peperoncino, and the anchovies in a pan. Warm them for about 2 minutes at medium-low heat, pressing the anchovies until they dissolve while keeping the garlic from browning. Crush the tomatoes by hand or with a spoon and add them to the pan. Once the edges bubble, let the sauce cook for about 10 minutes so some of its water evaporates. Stir in the olives and capers and continue for 5 minutes. If the sauce reduces rapidly or begins to taste sharply salty, lower the heat. Cook the spaghetti 1 minute less than its package timing, transfer it directly to the sauce, and toss for about 1 minute at medium heat until the tomato mixture coats the strands. Anchovies, olives, and capers already contribute substantial salt, so taste the finished sauce before adding any more. Turn off the heat, scatter over 10g chopped parsley, and serve immediately.
Ingredients
As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.
- 1Finish
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.
- 2Control
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.
- 3Control
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.
- 4Control
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.
- 5Control
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.
- 6Finish
Turn off the heat and check that the sauce coats the pasta evenly.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Practical Cooking Checks
The cues that matter most while cooking.
- Key technique
- Neapolitan tomato sauce built with dissolved anchovies, black olives, capers, and peperoncino.
- Finish cue
- Turn off the heat and check that the sauce coats the pasta evenly.
Cooking decision evidence
Calculated Charim data and applicable official cooking and food safety guidance.
This recipe
30min, 9 ingredients
Category median
35min, 9 ingredients
Based on 109 recipes
Use-up ingredient planner
Turn these ingredients into two more meals
The overlap excludes basic seasonings. Open the next recipe and your selected dishes will stay with you.

Shakshuka (Eggs Poached in Spiced Tomato Sauce)
Whole peeled tomatoes, Peperoncino

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca
Spaghetti, Black olives

Spaghetti alle Vongole
Spaghetti, Peperoncino