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Pasta Puttanesca

Close-up of Pasta Puttanesca with vibrant sauce and garnishes

A classic Italian pasta dish featuring a bold and savory sauce made with tomatoes, olives, capers, garlic, and anchovies, tossed with spaghetti for a flavorful and satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale

12 ounces spaghetti
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
6 anchovy fillets, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
2 tablespoons capers, rinsed
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the minced garlic, chopped anchovies, and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant and the anchovies have dissolved, about 2 minutes.
Add the crushed tomatoes, Kalamata olives, capers, and dried oregano to the skillet. Stir to combine and bring the sauce to a simmer.
Let the sauce simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly.
Season the sauce with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet with the sauce. Toss well to coat the pasta evenly, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time if needed to loosen the sauce.
Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the chopped parsley.
Divide the pasta among serving plates and, if desired, sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
Serve immediately.