This classic Italian puttanesca pasta recipe includes garlic, capers, and olives in the sauce to give it a savory flavor.
Have you ever made a puttanesca pasta recipe before? It’s a flavorful Italian pasta sauce with a somewhat iffy namesake: behold the What is puttanesca pasta? Section below what it means in Italian! Not only is it easy to prepare, but its incredibly robust flavor makes it a tasty and filling meal. It’s an easy and perfect meal to make for guests or even on a weekday. The key to this puttanesca pasta recipe are the olives – make sure you get good quality Kalamata olives! If you’re not an olive person, I’d try anyway. Kalamata olives taste bold straight from the jar, but in the sauce they add a wonderful flavor that isn’t too overwhelming.
Related:10 romantic dinner recipes
What is puttanesca pasta?
Often associated with Naples, Italy, puttanesca is a rich sauce made with anchovies, capers, olives, and sometimes garlic, chili peppers, and red pepper flakes. Although pasta puttanesca is usually served with spaghetti, it can work with any shape of long pasta. We used bucatini with this puttanesca pasta, a type of pasta that’s basically a hollow spaghetti noodle.
What does puttanesca pasta mean? Literally in Italian it means “spaghetti like a whore”. Historians are not entirely sure why. But according to this source, it’s no exaggeration to say that the potent blend of anchovies, olives, and capers might have something in common with the smell of a mid-century Italian prostitute. Either way, this is an incredibly delicious easy pasta dish that, despite the name, is suitable for people of all ages!
We left out the anchovies from our puttanesca pasta recipe, but feel free to add them if you like (3-4 chopped or 2 tbsp anchovy paste). Overall, we found this adjustment to our tastes with just the right amount of spices and not too much oil (as some versions of puttanesca pasta can lean towards the oily side). We will definitely include this in our repertoire – future guests watch out!
How to Store Puttanesca Pasta Sauce
This sauce keeps well in the fridge for four to five days, but you can store it in the freezer for up to three months. To freeze this pasta puttanesca, let it cool to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container (jars work well). You can also freeze the sauce in freezer-safe bags; Lay the pouches flat on a baking sheet until frozen, then store in the freezer as desired. Freezing the packets of sauce on a tray makes them easier to store because they take up less space. When you’re ready to enjoy this sauce, simply pop a jar in your fridge until thawed, then heat on the stovetop.
Looking for more Italian recipes?
Aside from this puttanesca pasta recipe, here are a few of our favorite Italian recipes:
This puttanesca pasta recipe is…
pescetarian. For vegetarians, omit the anchovy paste. For vegan, dairy-free and plant-based dishes, omit the parmesan topping. For gluten-free pasta, use gluten-free pasta.
The description
This classic Italian puttanesca pasta recipe includes garlic, capers, and olives in the sauce to give it a savory flavor.
- 1 Pound long pasta (spaghetti, bucatini, etc.)
- 4 Garlic cloves
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Anchovy paste or 3 anchovy fillets (omit for vegetarians or vegans)
- 32– ounces of crushed tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup Kalamata olives, sliced
- ¼ cup capers
- parsley, parmesan and red pepper flakes for garnish (omit cheese for vegan)
- Bring a large pot of salted water (about 1 tablespoon Kosher salt) to a boil. Cook pasta al dente.
- Meanwhile chop the garlic. If the olives aren’t sliced, cut them in half. In a large saucepan or separate saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and anchovy paste and cook until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes, red pepper flakes, and kosher salt and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.
- Add the olives and capers to the tomato sauce. Continue to simmer until the noodles are done.
- Drain the pasta and stir into the tomato sauce. Serve garnished with parmesan and finely chopped parsley and add additional red pepper flakes to taste.
- Category: main course
- Method: Cook
- Kitchen: Italian
Keywords: Puttanesca Recipe, Puttanesca Pasta, Vegetarian Pasta Recipe
