Pasta Puttanesca (Neapolitan Anchovy Olive Caper Tomato Sauce)
Pasta Easy

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

servings
IngredientAmountUnit
Spaghetti200 ggShop
Capers2 tbsptbspShop
Garlic3 clovecloveShop
Peperoncino1 piecepieceShop
Olive oil3 tbsptbspShop
Parsley10 ggShop
Shop All Ingredients

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Instructions

Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.

6 steps
  1. 1
    Finish

    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. 2
    Control

    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. 3
    Control

    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. 4
    Control

    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. 5
    Control

    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. 6
    Finish

    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

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Tips

Anchovies and capers are already salty - taste before adding any extra salt.

Estimated nutrition (per serving)

Calories
520
kcal
Protein
17
g
Carbs
70
g
Fat
19
g