Mildly spicy and deliciously aromatic, pasta puttanesca is a rich, savory pasta dish prepared very simply with a few pantry staples for a wonderfully rustic meal. Brimming with tomatoes, garlic, anchovies, capers, and briny olives tossed with warm spaghetti, this pasta puttanesca recipe is a classic Italian dish that's on the table in under 30 minutes!
A FlavorFul Pasta with a Colorful Personality
I've always thought of pasta puttanesca as a pasta dish with a bit of a “colorful history”, you might say...
Originating in Naples in the mid 20th century, it's been said to have possibly been created as a popular meal in the bordellos of that city due to its name, “puttanesca”, which means “prostitute” in Italian. Interesting, eh...?
A pasta with a bit of a "colorful" past, perhaps?
While we may never really know if the bordellos of Naples are the true place of origin of this famous pasta dish, or whether the name was simply meant to be cheeky and playful, what I can tell you is that this pasta dish has a ton of innate personality from the combination of rustic, savory, and simple ingredients used in the preparation of it.
The sauce is filled with aromatic garlic, tomatoes, savory anchovies, red pepper flakes, plus briny capers and olives.
And when tossed together with warm spaghetti pasta, this pasta puttanesca (or pasta alla puttanesca) is true Italian comfort food at its best, with a wonderfully rustic and earthy slant.
Mangia!

My Pasta Puttanesca Recipe
Pasta puttanesca has become a new favorite meal in our household, in large part because it's so easy to prepare, and absolutely loaded with spicy-savory flavor.
The puttanesca sauce itself is just a simple tomato sauce, but it's flavored with earthy aromatics such as a generous amount of garlic sauteed with minced anchovy fillets, a hefty dash of red pepper flakes for heat, a touch of tomato paste, plus whole tomatoes that have been chopped to a chunky consistency, and crushed tomatoes for smooth texture.
Also added to the pan are capers and rich olives for added earthiness (I love both Kalamata and Castelvetrano varieties in this puttanesca sauce)—so tasty!
Finished with a flourish of herbs, the puttanesca sauce is then ready for warm spaghetti to be added directly into it, or your own favorite variety of pasta.
Here's a glance at my pasta puttanesca recipe: (or just jump to the full recipe...)
- To begin, I place a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add in a generous pour of olive oil.
- Next, I add the garlic to the skillet along with my minced anchovy fillets, and saute those together with some red pepper flakes until aromatic.
- I add in my tomato products, followed by my capers and olives, as well as my dried herbs, and stir those to combine, allowing the puttanesca sauce to gently simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
- While the sauce simmers, I cook my spaghetti according to package instructions, then drain it and add it directly into my puttanesca sauce, and toss to combine.
- To finish, I add in my fresh parsley, then serve in bowls with a bit of grated parmesan and basil leaves.

Recipe
Pasta Puttanesca
by Ingrid Beer

This pasta puttanesca is deliciously rustic and mildly spicy, flavored generously with garlic, briny olives, anchovies, and capers!
Category: Entree
Cuisine: Italian
Yield: Serves 8
Nutrition Info: 338 calories per serving
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- 8 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
- 8 anchovy fillets, lightly minced
- ½ to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (depending on desired spice level)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes with juices, roughly chopped to chunky consistency
- 1 (14 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup pitted Castelvetrano olives
- ½ cup pitted Kalamata olives
- 2 tablespoons capers
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 pound (16 ounce) package spaghetti pasta, or favorite pasta variety
- 2 tablespoons chopped, fresh parsley
- Basil leaves, optional garnish
- Shaved or grated parmesan, optional garnish
- Begin by gathering and prepping all of your ingredients according to the ingredients list above to have ready and on organized for use.
- Place a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, and drizzle in about 1/ 4 cup of olive oil. Once hot, add in the garlic, minced anchovy fillets, and red pepper flakes, and stir to combine. Allow these to become aromatic, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Next, stir in the tomato paste to incorporate, followed by the roughly chopped whole tomatoes with juices, the crushed tomatoes, the Castelvetrano and Kalamata olives, the capers, and the dried parsley and oregano, and add a couple of pinches of salt and generous twist or two of freshly ground black pepper.
- Allow the sauce to gently simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
- While the sauce simmer, cook your spaghetti (or other pasta) according to package instructions, then drain and keep warm.
- To finish the pasta puttanesca, stir the fresh parsley into the sauce, then add the warm, cooked spaghetti directly into the sauce and gently toss with tongs to combine. Sprinkle over top some torn basil leaves (if using), and serve while hot, with parmesan if desired.
Tips & Tidbits for my Pasta Puttanesca recipe:
- Spaghetti, or your choice of pasta: Since spaghetti is a pretty traditional choice for pasta puttanesca, I opt for that here in my recipe. Not to mention, I happen to really love spaghetti. But other terrific options are angel hair (or vermicelli) pasta, or linguini, or even penne pasta.
- Leave out the anchovies, if desired: If you're not a fan of anchovies, feel free to leave them out. I love that bit of richness and salty “umami” flavor that they add to this puttanesca sauce, giving it that something special that's not in traditional tomato sauces. They're not actually overwhelmingly strong, but if you'd rather not add 'em, feel free to omit.
- Whole tomatoes, plus crushed tomatoes, for texture: I'm using a combination of good quality canned whole tomatoes and crushed tomatoes for the sauce. I roughly chop the whole tomatoes so that there's some chunky consistency to the puttanesca sauce, and appreciate the crushed tomatoes for their more velvety texture.
- Two kinds of pitted olives, for briny flavor: Both Kalamata and Castelvetrano olives add a lot of briny flavor to this sauce, and I love the dual colors. But feel free to use just one of these types of olives, if you prefer. Make sure to opt for pitted, however, to avoid a toothache!


Craving more mouthwatering pasta recipes? Check out this Shrimp Scampi, this Spaghetti Bolognese, Vegetable Pasta with Mozzarella, or this Bistro Sausage Pasta!
Michael Baldwin
Magnificent Keeper recipe cheers. Followed your recipe 100% and loved it, I had the Anchovies (unfortunately My Bride doesn't like them) and mixed with the briny olive flavour was just superb! I used shell pasta to keep all spoonfuls at about the same size and also added half-a-cup of salty pasta water into the mix at the end. Having the luxury of semi-retired time, I cooked the 'sauce' slowly for 2hrs and then added the freshly cooked pasta in the last 10mins. Divine!
The Cozy Apron
Michael, your description is making my mouth water, haha! Fantastic. So happy you enjoyed the recipe, and that it was a success for you. Funny about the anchovies—I, myself, am not typically a huge fan, but in this sauce, I love how they just sort of "melt" into it and add flavor in the background.
Hope you and yours enjoy this for a long time to come, and may you find more recipes on the site to enjoy as well! Happy cooking to you, Michael!
Michael
Thanks Ingrid, I made this wonderful recipe again and once again the whole family wanted more! I added some 'Button Mushrooms' (Cremini style) too for a different texture and flavour throughout the dish! Served with a Nutty topped-Sourdough bread roll to soak up all of that wonderful sauce (helps with the washing-up)! Unsurprisingly everyone loved it, again it's a never fail recipe, thanks for sharing your creativity! Cheers...
The Cozy Apron
Michael, thanks so much for your comment! To read that the family "wanted more"...it just warms my heart. 🙂
Love your addition of mushrooms for a bit of texture, and the sourdough to sop up the sauce is a little bit of additional comfort. May you all continue to enjoy for a long time to come, Michael.
Happy cooking to you, and cheers to finding pleasure in many more delicious family meals!
Michaela Morales
This was incredible! Now one of my favorite pastas. The anchovies melt by the time you are finished making the dish, therefore, not much fishy taste. FABULOUS!
The Cozy Apron
Michaela, thanks so much for sharing your experience with me! Yes, those anchovies really do sort of "melt" into the sauce, and mellow out by the time the sauce is finished cooking. Thrilled you enjoyed, and happy cooking to you!
Kristin
I don't think I have ever left a comment on a recipe before but this was AMAZING! I couldn't wrap my head around how such a weird mix of ingredients would come together but it was absolutely delicious. Not fishy or olive-y but just awesome. I did use fresh tomatoes from my garden instead of whole tomatoes but that was the only thing I "altered". Seriously good!
The Cozy Apron
Hi Kristin, I am honored that you've left a comment on the recipe, haha! Love it. 🙂
So happy to read that you really enjoyed the puttanesca, and felt that the flavors melded together well and were balanced.
I'm sure your fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes really made the sauce outstanding as well! Nothing like healthy, home-grown produce to use in your recipes.
Happy cooking to you Kristin!
Joseph
I have not made this recipe yet, but I love puttanesca sauce and pasta. I was wondering if I wanted to add a protein such as chicken or shrimp with the pasta, how would I incorporate it into the recipe during the cooking process?
The Cozy Apron
Hi Joseph, I think that'd be delicious! I'd cook those separately, once the sauce has finished cooking (and before I add the pasta to the sauce).
I'd sear up the shrimp in a nice hot pan (those are super quick, which is ideal), then finish the pasta and add the shrimp into the pan. Same process with chicken. You could also keep your protein separate, and add to individual servings as desired.
Hope that helps...and hope you enjoy the puttanesca!
yvonne
came across this dish in a movie years ago & have made it since then a couple of times thru ur recipe.
THANKU!
The Cozy Apron
Yvonne, my pleasure! Thrilled you're enjoying the recipe!