Authentic Italian Spaghetti alla Puttanesca Recipe

This easy and Authentic Italian Spaghetti alla Puttanesca Recipe takes only 20 minutes to prepare. It is rich in flavor with little effort. Made with a few pantry staples you can eat like an Italian restaurant at home!

The basis is a garlicky tomato sauce; canned tomatoes. This sauce is elevated by the addition of anchovies, capers and olives and red pepper flakes to add a bit of heat. Red pepper flakes make things even better.

It is ridiculously easy and out of this world delicious!

More delicious pasta sauce recipes: Classic Italian Tomato Sauce (Sugo al Pomodoro) and BEST Italian Beef Short Rib Ragu.

Make sure to read:  How Long to Boil Spaghetti Pasta Perfectly Every Time to elevate this dish even more!

Why I love spaghetti alla puttanesca

Puttanesca sauce is an Italian sauce invented in Naples in the mid-20th century and made typically with tomatoes, olive oil, olives, chili peppers, capers, and garlic—with spaghetti pasta.

Spaghetti with puttanesca sauce is always a safe go-to recipe for my family when I need a quick dish with simple ingredients.

It is a savory meal with lots of Italian flavors you are sure to love!

Jump to:

• Authentic Italian Spaghetti alla Puttanesca Sauce
• Ingredients for spaghetti alla puttanesca recipe
• How to make spaghetti alla puttanesca (step by Step)
• Pasta alla Puttanesca
• Substitutions for anchovies in puttanesca sauce
• Variations to puttanesca sauce
• Where does Spaghetti alla Puttanesca get its' name?
• Pasta Variety
• What to serve with Spaghetti alla Puttanesca
• FAQ's
• Classic Pasta alla Puttanesca

Authentic Italian Spaghetti alla Puttanesca Sauce

Puttanesca sauce is a popular Italian pasta recipe. The original Neapolitan ingredients are simple and flavorful. The ingredients include onion, garlic, shallot (optional), olives, capers, and anchovies (if desired).

As an Italian, I can tell you we love to talk about food and discussing the correct ingredients for traditional dishes. Since there are regional versions of many popular dishes, we often dispute the correct way to cook something!

However, when it comes to Puttanesca there are a couple of strict rules all of us Italians think are true: No Parmigiano cheese if you make it with anchovies (Italians don’t usually use cheese on seafood pasta dishes) and no basil! That's it!

Now, if you want to break the Italian rules, I won't tell. Enjoy it any way that makes you happy. That's the most important part.

How to make spaghetti alla puttanesca (step by Step)

Pasta alla puttanesca requires little time and will coon be one of your favorite pasta recipes!

Here is how to make it step by step:

Making the sauce:

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and shallot, lightly fry for 8-10 mins, or until soft. Add the garlic and chilli, if using, and cook for another minute.
2. Stir in the tomatoes, anchovies, olives and capers into the onion, bring to a gentle simmer and cook, uncovered, for 10 mins. Season to taste.

Boiling the spaghetti

1. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Cook the spaghetti following the packet  instructions until al dente, then drain and reserve ⅓ cup of pasta water. Add the pasta water to the sauce and stir to combine.

Making pasta the correct way:

1. Stir occasionally with the proper utensil (our custom made wooden spoons) to keep the pasta from sticking. Read How Long to Boil Spaghetti (pasta)- Perfect Every Time to cook the best pasta!

Finish the pasta dish:

Toss pasta with the sauce. Add parsley for garnish and serve hot. Mangia! (Eat!)

Pasta alla Puttanesca

This is a simple and quick pasta dish that is popular across Italy. Save it in your recipe book of easy Italian pasta dishes!

The flavors are rich and aromatic with few ingredients. It is a meal to love and make often! It is similar to these other well loved Italian pasta classics:

Authentic Pasta Carbonara- Italian Recipe

Restaurant Style Italian Cacio e Pepe (Best Tips)

Authentic Italian Amatriciana Sauce

Authentic Italian Pesto Genovese (Basil pesto)

Substitutions for anchovies in puttanesca sauce

Help! I don't like anchovies, what can I use instead? The best substitute for anchovies varies by dish. 

Substitutes include fish sauce, shrimp paste, sardines, soy sauce, or miso. The only one I would recommend for this recipe is a bit of Worcestershire sauce (the amount to your liking).

If I'm being honest, I will tell you that the taste of anchovies is not strong in this recipe. It creates more of an unami flavor that complements the sauce and pairs well with the taste of capers and olives.

I would definitely try this recipe with the anchovy to try something new! I bet you will acquire a new appreciation for the taste.

Variations to puttanesca sauce

This simple and delicious pasta dish is fantastic as is without additional toppings. If you crave a more hearty dish try adding a good quality canned tuna or salmon for an extra protein boost.

Wine - add a splash of white wine at the end of cooking to enhance the flavor of the sauce

Olives - you can also use kalamata olives for this recipe!

Where does Spaghetti alla Puttanesca get its' name?

Well, the name isn't pretty, or appropriate for that matter! Let's get it out of the way: Yes, puttanesca literally translates to “of, relating to, or characteristic of a prostitute,” to quote the OED.

There is a theory that the dish was invented in one of many bordellos in the Naples working-class neighborhood of Quartieri Spagnoli.

The explanations for the origin of puttanesca are many, just as the sources and scholars who have tried to trace the first inventive chef who began to call this spicy dish ‘puttanesca’.

Originally, it was called ‘alla marinara’; the current name began to appear after World War II.

Some say that the name originated in the brothels of the Spanish Quarters (whore is puttana in Italian, hence puttanesca).

Some argue that, the modern name of this preparation refers to pasta ‘prepared as it comes’, that is, easy to cook, without frills or complicated preparation.

Pasta Variety

Long Pasta Shapes Like Spaghetti, Bucatini, Capellini and Spaghettini. These long strands are best paired with this rich tomato based sauce.

Read more about what pasta shapes go best with which sauce here.

The thick sauce will coat the strands evenly and won't get weighed down when wound up with a fork.

Can you use short pasta for this recipe? Yes, absolutely. Use what you have on hand. I love this sauce with long pasta, but feel free to change it to your preference.

From my Cucina to your Table! Mangia! (Eat!)

What to serve with Spaghetti alla Puttanesca

This delicious pasta recipe is filling all on its own. All you need is some delicious Italian bread and a simple salad.

If you want to serve an appetizer try: Crispy Calamari Air Fryer Recipe, or King Crab Salad Recipe .

Don't forget dessert! Try Simple Italian Apple Cake (one bowl), Classic Italian Tiramisu Recipe, or BEST Authentic Sicilian Cannoli Recipe.

FAQ's

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Have you checked out my NEW CBE PRODUCTS? Take a look at the 2-in-1 cutting and charcuterie board, gorgeous apron, and unique pasta server that you that you absolutely need. The wood products are all handmade in Salt Lake City, Utah. They make great gifts as well!

Spaghetti alla puttanesca takes minutes to prepare, and that’s one of the secrets of its' success. It is a no fuss meal with pantry staples that tastes amazing.

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