Pasta Puttanesca Recipe

There’s nothing quite like a bold yet comforting homemade pasta dish to warm up your dining table. This Pasta Puttanesca recipe revolves around sweet tomato sauce, savory anchovies, briny olives, and a hearty mixture of spices.

As intensely colorful as it looks on the plate, you will be surprised by how effortless this dish is. Using mostly pantry staples that come together in less than 15 minutes, it’s a must-have for all your busy weeknight dinners.

What Does Pasta Puttanesca Taste Like?

Pasta Puttanesca is a classic Italian dish that mainly uses pantry staples such as tomatoes, anchovies, olives, and other spices. Despite the familiarity, each ingredient still has its own signature taste that complements the others surprisingly well.

The vibrant Puttanesca sauce is the primary source of flavor here. It gives the overall dish a fragrant mixture of sweet, savory, spicy, and bold. Combined with the slightly chewy spaghetti, this pasta is an exciting harmony of tastes and textures.

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Is This Recipe Healthy?

The general concern with pasta is how unhealthy it can be due to the mixture of starch and cream. However, there’s no need to worry about it in this recipe because we made sure to follow our guidelines and keep everything moderate.

There are around 479 calories in each serving, which only takes up between 17 – 23% of the recommended daily intake. While specific recommendations should be individualized, the general recommended limit is 2100 for females and 2700 for males within the 18 – 45 age group. 

Furthermore, we also keep the saturated fat and sodium levels to a minimum. There is only 5.5 g saturated fat and 559.9 mg sodium, both of which take up less than 25% of the daily limit set out by our guidelines and the USDA. 

As far as individual foods go, we use homemade tomato sauce, which includes a vast amount of nutrients and less preservatives than store-bought ones. With anchovies as one of the main ingredients, this dish also contains omega-3 fatty acids, potentially reducing the risk of depression and heart disease.

Ingredients You Will Need

You can find most of the ingredients used in this pasta recipe readily available in your kitchen. 

• Pasta: Spaghetti is the most popular choice for this type of pasta. However, you can also use other long-strand varieties such as linguine, vermicelli, etc. To keep the sodium level to a minimum, make sure you use the unenriched variety with no salt added to it.
• Homemade tomato sauce: Our recipe creates a saucy mixture with unparalleled freshness in less than 30 minutes. Its vibrant sweetness will set a base flavor that makes an unforgettable first impression. 
• Anchovy fillets: This fish adds a layer of complexity to the dish, thanks to its rich and umami flavor. You don’t have to worry too much about the ‘fishy’ taste as it balances out perfectly with the other ingredients. 
• Chicken broth: Using broth instead of plain water will give your sauce a richer texture and more flavor. We use this little trick when making dishes like Kung Pao Spaghetti and Pesto Spaghetti. Don’t worry about it overpowering the final taste because it’s still quite mild and light. You can make your own homemade version or find unsalted packs at your local food store. 
• Capers: As an essential ingredient, these flower buds add a uniquely tangy and slightly briny taste to your dish. Consider choosing smaller capers for a softer texture and less acidic taste.
• Olives: This recipe calls for black olives, which have a mellow and tangy taste with a slightly fruity undertone. You can use fresh or canned ones to add some extra flavor and texture to the dish. 
• Garlic: A few minced cloves of garlic will bring along a much-needed kick to the dish. It’s usually added right at the beginning to infuse all the ingredients with its mildly caramelized aroma. 
• Seasonings: A little bit of paprika, pepper flakes, salt, and pepper will warm up this pasta and subtly brighten the overall taste. 
• Parmesan cheese: The slightly nutty flavor complements the sauce wonderfully well and makes the overall dish taste a lot more authentic. As a finishing touch, you can also sprinkle some cheese over the pasta. 

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How to Store and Reheat the Leftovers

You can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 – 4 days. If possible, keep the sauce and the pasta separate to ensure their flavors and textures stay fresh. 

When you want to eat it again, reheat the dish in the oven or on a pan over medium heat. Add some water or olive oil to loosen the sauce if it has thickened. 

What to Serve with

As this pasta is already quite bold, you can balance the flavors by pairing it with milder side dishes and drinks. We suggest a salad to add some much-needed veggies to the meal and a juice to soften the palate.

• Beet and Feta Cheese Salad

This bright and colorful salad is nothing short of extraordinary. It carries a sweet and earthy taste with a zesty undertone. The crumbled feta cheese ties everything together in a creamy and slightly sour aftertaste.

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• Watermelon juice 

Watermelon juice is a delicious refreshment that you can make in a cinch. Its sweet taste and hydrating characteristics make it the perfect companion for this meal.

How to Make Pasta Puttanesca

5 from 1 vote

A homemade food dream come true, this Pasta Puttanesca Recipe takes simple ingredients and turns them into a hearty dish that instantly brightens your meal.

- by Tuyet Pham, Luna Regina, 2022-07-12

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• cook TIME 10 mins
• prep TIME 5 mins
• total TIME 15 mins

• COURSE Main Course
• CUISINE Italian
• SERVINGS
  4

  servings
• CALORIES 479 kcal

INGREDIENTS

1x2x3x

• 18 oz cooked spaghetti
• 1 1/2 cup homemade tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup unsalted chicken broth
• 0.25 oz anchovies
• 0.25 oz canned capers
• 3 oz black olives
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 oz onions (diced)
• 2 tbsp garlic (minced)
• 1 oz shredded parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 2 tbsp parsley

INSTRUCTIONS

Image instructions

1

Over medium-high heat, stir-fry 1 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp garlic, and 2 oz onions for 1 minute until fragrant.

2

Add 1 1/2 cup homemade tomato sauce and 1/2 cup chicken broth, then gently stir until the ingredients are blended.

3

Proceed to add 0.25 oz anchovy, 3 oz black olives, 1 oz parmesan cheese, 1/2 tsp pepper flakes, 0.25 oz capers, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Stir on low heat for 2 minutes until sauce thickens.

4

Add 18 oz cooked spaghetti, then stir to combine for another 2 minutes.

5

Take off the heat and garnish with 2 tbsp parsley. Serve hot.

NUTRITION

Nutrition Facts

How to Make Pasta Puttanesca

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 479Calories from Fat 216

% Daily Value*

Fat 24g

37%

Saturated Fat 6g

38%

Polyunsaturated Fat 2g

Monounsaturated Fat 8g

Cholesterol 14mg

5%

Sodium 559mg

24%

Potassium 603mg

17%

Carbohydrate 54g

18%

Fiber 6g

25%

Sugar 6g

7%

Protein 14g

28%

Vitamin A 1955IU

39%

Vitamin C 27mg

33%

Calcium 160mg

16%

Iron 5mg

28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keywords: how to make pasta puttanesca, pasta puttanesca, pasta puttanesca recipe