Spaghetti puttanesca

Tips: Perfect your spaghetti puttanesca

With our practical tips, you can have fun making spaghetti puttanesca.

Choose Kalamata olives and fresh anchovies

To capture the authentic flavour of spaghetti puttanesca, use top-quality Kalamata olives and fresh anchovy fillets. Kalamata olives play a crucial role in the dish. Pitting the olives enhances their flavour contribution to the sauce. Fresh anchovy fillets blend into the sauce without adding an intense fish flavour.

Storing and freezing puttanesca sauce

To keep your spaghetti puttanesca sauce tasting fresh, cool it down fast after cooking. Then, put it in a sealed container and refrigerate. This keeps it good for three days. For longer storage, pop the sauce into the freezer. Divide it into smaller containers or freezer bags so you can easily thaw the amount you need later. When you want to use the sauce, thaw it in the fridge overnight. Warm it up slowly on the stove to keep the flavours intact and the sauce smooth.

Simmer the sauce longer

The longer you let the sauce simmer, the more flavourful it will be. The 15 minutes listed above will give it plenty of flavour, but if you do have more time on your hands, let it simmer for a bit longer. This allows the tomatoes to break down and the sauce to become rich and thick.

Try our easy recipe for spaghetti puttanesca

For a quick and flavourful meal, try making spaghetti puttanesca. This traditional Italian dish is ideal for busy evenings or lunch. Its appeal lies in the perfect combination of chilli and garlic that add a touch of warmth, while anchovies, olives, and capers create a salty, rich base. These ingredients come together beautifully in a savoury tomato sauce, delivering a meal that is both easy to prepare and full of taste.

Let us introduce you to a few more incredible pasta dishes, such as spaghetti aglio e olio or spaghetti in tomato sauce.

Delicious tomato sauce with an aromatic punch

Spaghetti puttanesca is renowned for its bold and savoury tomato sauce, brimming with complex layers of flavour. This sauce gains its depth from a mix of anchovies, olives, and capers, which deliver a deep, aromatic punch. These ingredients blend seamlessly, coating the pasta and transforming it into a dish that is both robust and delightful. The interplay of salty, tangy, umami, and savoury notes makes spaghetti puttanesca a go-to choice for pasta lovers. To complete the dish, we like to garnish it with parsley for a touch of freshness.

What to serve with spaghetti alla puttanesca?

Spaghetti puttanesca is an excellent choice for a quick emergency dinner on busy weekdays, but it can also be transformed into a more substantial meal. To add more variety, consider serving it with a light rocket salad topped with shaved Parmesan. You can dress the salad with a tangy vinaigrette, which complements the deep flavours of the puttanesca sauce. Serve the pasta with a crusty piece of bread or garlic bread to round out the meal. For an extra touch, a light sprinkle of Parmesan on the spaghetti adds a gooey, melted-cheese appearance. But be mindful of the cheese, as the dish is already quite salty, and too much Parmesan can overpower the other flavours.

Make it your own 

Our recipe is perfect for creative home cooks who enjoy personalising their dishes. You can adjust the spiciness by controlling the amount of chilli used. Start with a small amount for a milder flavour, and gradually add more if you prefer extra heat. Furthermore, while Kalamata olives are traditional, feel free to experiment with different types, such as green olives, Castelvetrano olives, or even sun-dried tomatoes for an adventurous twist. For added flavour and colour, consider incorporating vegetables like cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, or roasted red peppers. If you are looking for a slight savoury boost, sautéed mushrooms make a great addition.