Spaghetti Puttanesca

A bowl of Spaghetti Puttanesca with freshly shredded Parmesan on top and a fork tucked into the side of the bowl.

5 from 1 vote

Yield: 4 Servings

This easy Spaghetti Puttanesca is filled with the spicy, bold flavors of garlic, chili flakes, anchovies, olives, and capers. It’s a simple classic dish you'll adore!

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Ingredients

8 oz dried spaghetti
4 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup finely chopped onion
4 large garlic cloves, minced
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
5 anchovy filets, finely chopped
¼ cup chopped black olives
¼ cup capers, drained
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 oz finely grated Pecorino Romano, plus more for serving
1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
Basil leaves, for garnish, optional

Instructions

Cook the spaghetti for 2 minutes less than the package says.
While the spaghetti cooks, heat the olive oil over medium-low and cook the onion, garlic, and chili flakes for 4 minutes.
Stir in the anchovies, olives, capers and cook for another 2 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and simmer for 4 minutes, then stir in the grated cheese.
Drain the spaghetti and add it to the sauce and toss to coat. If needed, add a couple of tablespoons of the hot spaghetti water and cook for another 3 minutes.
Serve bowls of the spaghetti with more grated cheese, parsley and basil, if desired.

Notes

Anchovies: Can you taste the anchovies? When you cook with anchovies, they don’t taste fishy. They just add a nice salty flavor to the dish, and lots of umami.

Anchovy Substitutes: For an anchovy-less version, you can replace the anchovies with a little bit of tamari sauce, seaweed, or finely chopped artichoke hearts.

Pasta: You will want to undercook the pasta by 2 minutes. It will cook till tender in the sauce.

Tomatoes: San Marzano tomatoes are a great option, if you can find them. They're known for being less acidic than other canned varieties.

Storing: If you have leftover pasta puttanesca, you can store it in your refrigerator for up to three days. To keep it as fresh as possible, store it in zip-top bags or airtight containers.

Reheating: You can reheat this dish on the stove over medium heat, just until the ingredients are warmed through

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 337kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g, Cholesterol: 32mg, Sodium: 694mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g