This pasta puttanesca, made with tomatoes, anchovies, olives, and penne is edgy, spicy, and sassy, just like the women it’s named after.
“Whore’s pasta.” Was ever a name so perfectly suited to a dish? This is edgy, spicy, and just the right side of wrong, conjuring up visions of Neapolitan streets and dangerous women in tight dresses.–Sophie Dahl
☞ Contents
Pasta Puttanesca
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and chopped
- 1 fresh red chile seeded and chopped
- Two (14 1/2-ounce) cans chopped tomatoes drained
- 8 anchovy fillets
- 1 teaspoon light brown sugar (optional)
- 1 cup black olives pitted and chopped if desired
- 12 to 16 ounces penne preferably spelt pasta (spelt has a lovely light texture and nutty flavor, not to mention a healthful wholesomeness)
- 4 heaping tablespoons chopped basil or flat-leaf parsley leaves
Directions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 4 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the garlic and chile and sweat. (No, not you, she means to cook the garlic and chile over moderately lowish heat so they slowly, slowly throw off their moisture).
- Add the tomatoes, bring to a simmer, and then take it down to low heat.
- Pull out a pestle and mortar and mash the anchovies with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil into a paste.
- Add the paste to the simmering sauce and carry on with the simmering for about 20 minutes more. The sauce should smell musky and heady.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta as directed on the box until it is al dente and drain.
- You could add 1 teaspoon brown sugar to the sauce here, although taste it first and then decide whether you'd like to add it or not. Add the olives to the sauce, spoon it over the pasta, scatter with a big handful of parsley, and pretend you’re in a crowded trattoria in a winding alleyway in Naples.
Notes
An Even Quicker Pasta Puttanesca Variation
When time constraints scream for takeout, consider tossing together this weeknight-friendly pasta instead. The truly impatient should note that this quick recipe can be made even more quickly by relying on a pinch of red pepper flakes rather than a tediously chopped fresh chile and a smidgen of anchovy paste from a tube rather than the slippery real deal.Show Nutrition
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Recipe Testers’ Reviews
So easy and fast! It took longer for the water to boil than it did to throw together this sauce.
This is one of those dishes where you won’t taste the anchovies because they just meld into the sauce, but you also definitely don’t want to leave them out. I threw in chopped basil since it’s what we have growing. The whole thing was garlicky, salty, and spicy enough to make us happy.
This pasta puttanesca is a keeper. It’s easy and flavorful. I added capers to mine because, well, I like it voluptuous…
I can’t believe how fast this pasta puttanesca was to make and how good the results were. My husband and I both liked this and it will be part of my repertoire of weeknight recipes. I used a chile pepper, anchovies (as opposed to paste), and basil (not parsley), and didn’t add the brown sugar. I’m a deep down, true blue pasta lover and was quite impressed with spelt pasta, which I hadn’t tried before. It’s better than whole-wheat pasta (yuck!).
Originally published February 27, 2020
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If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We'd love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
This recipe is delicious and is every bit sassy, spicy and edgy as described by the author. Added bonus, it is super-fast and simple!! I used red pepper flakes for the heat, fire roasted tomatoes, which were blitzed a bit with the immersion blender, and kalamata olives. The 1 t. of light brown sugar is a must. That small amount contrasted so well with all those bold spicy, sassy, salty flavors, but I really adore that sweet/salty thing anyway. All in all, a wonderful recipe, especially with the spelt pasta. One I know will end up on my list of “Craving” recipes.
Fantastic, Deb! We love that this has made your craving list. Please let us know what you try next.
One of my favorite easy-quick recipes, and glad that you mentioned using oil-cured olives.
But—what’s with the garlic?? Waaaay too much.
Wow, AmericaBeautiful, and I though it was perfect! Did you make it? Two cloves of garlic is on the low end. Some recipe call for six cloves!
Thank you for your reply! Yes, it’s perfect otherwise, and I make it sometimes. In our family though, we use garlic sparingly, not as a vegetable. I realize that 4-6 cloves is what many recipes call for. Musta been pretty awful for those legendary Italian customers.
You do a really fine job in your blog.
Thank you, AmericaBeautiful. I guess being Portuguese, I can’t resist garlic! There something called refogado, which is a mixture of slowly sautéed onions and garlic, which is then used as a base for just about everything. So many recipe begin with, “Faz um refogado…” Make a refogado.
I had a good giggle when reading about how to sweat the garlic. As a transplanted Yank to England about 8 years ago, I had to learn an entirely, new vocabulary if I wanted to cook here. Things here are sweated, not sauteed and that’s just the beginning! This recipe is a fine one. Ms. Dahl (now Mrs. Jamie Cullum) had a very good TV show here awhile back. I, too, add capers and we use Gran Padano as a finishing touch. I like it so much better than the old parmesan cheese of olde.
I love pasta recipes – so easy to make and delicious. And your picture just makes me want to gobble it all up right now. I always use San Marzano tomatoes, they are the best!
We couldn’t agree more, Robin. San Marzanos are the best. As is this recipe from the lovely and reliable Miss Sophie Dahl…
I would like to substitute anchovy paste for the anchovies. how much should i use?
Daniel, it’s not a cop out, but I’d add to taste. Each brand of paste is a bit different, some are saltier, some are oilier, etc. I’d add the paste a bit at a time until it’s perfection.