Tags
anchovy, black olives, capers, dinner, food, pasta, puttanesca, recipe, recipes, spaghetti

This is really a good version of spaghetti, full of flavor. I have made it before, several times, but I have no idea where the recipe is. Can’t even find it on my computer. I came across this one which is very similar to the one I have made. Fun to make, it only takes about 20 minutes as long as you have all the ingredients prepped. Have a go with it and have fun making it. A classic Italian dish.
Spaghetti Puttanesca
(Spaghetti With Capers, Olives, and Anchovies)
Source: adapted from Serious Eats
Bob and Robin Young, Boise, ID
The Captain’s Shack 10 January 2025
PDF: CS-Spaghetti-Puttanesca.pdf
Note: Pasta that packs an aromatic punch, thanks to garlic, anchovies, capers, and olives. Go light on the additional salt. The anchovy, cspers and olives have plenty.
Prep: 15 mins Cook: 20 mins Total: 20 mins
Serves: 3 to 4

Ingredients:
6 T (90ml) Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, divided
4 med Garlic Cloves, thinly sliced or finely chopped by hand
4 to 6 Anchovy Fillets, finely chopped (1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons)
Large pinch Aleppo Pepper
¼ c Capers, drained and chopped (about 2 ounces; 60g)
¼ c chopped Pitted Black Olives (about 2 ounces; 60g)
1 c (225g) Whole Peeled Tomatoes, preferably San Marzano, roughly broken up by hand, about half a 14-ounce can
One 5-ounce (140g) can Oil-Packed Tuna (optional)
Celtic Sea Salt
8 ounces (225g) Dried Spaghetti
Small handful minced Fresh Parsley Leaves
1 oz (30g) finely grated Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, plus more for serving
¼ t freshly ground Tellicherry Black Pepper
Directions:
In a medium skillet, combine 4 tablespoons (60ml) oil, garlic, anchovies, and red pepper flakes. Cook over medium heat until garlic is very lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Adjust heat as necessary to keep it gently sizzling. Add capers and olives and stir to combine.
Add tomatoes, stir to combine, and bring to a bare simmer. If using, stir in canned tuna, flaking it gently with a fork. Remove from heat.
Meanwhile, in a 12-inch skillet, 12-inch sauté pan, or large saucepan of lightly salted boiling water, cook spaghetti until just shy of al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions.
Using tongs, transfer pasta to sauce. Alternatively, drain pasta through a colander, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water. Add drained pasta to sauce.
Add a few tablespoons of pasta water to sauce and set over medium-high heat to bring pasta and sauce to a vigorous simmer. Cook, stirring and shaking the pan and adding more pasta water as necessary to keep sauce loose, until pasta is perfectly al dent olive oil, parsley, and cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately with more grated cheese at the table. Serve with a good red wine, like merlot.
