Puttanesca Sauce Recipe

Puttanesca sauce is a traditional dish from Italian cuisine. In fact, it is a dish with a rich history and a combination of ingredients that give it a lot of personality and the most delicious flavor to pasta.

In this recipe lies the origin of the popular Italian pasta, with the root of the term «Spaghetti alla puttanesca» meaning «spaghetti in the style of prostitutes.» According to the story, it is believed that in the city of Naples, the ladies of the night had the habit of occasionally dedicating themselves to cooking and preparing this classic Italian dish.

Puttanesca Sauce Recipe The combination of ingredients that can be added to this explosive preparation is excellent. It basically includes: Olive oil, garlic cloves, and chopped onions. All of this is sautéed in a pan, and then anchovies, diced tomatoes, and optional herbs are added.

Now, let’s take a look at a practical, simple, and delicious recipe for a special dinner. We’ll see the ingredients we’ll need and the step-by-step process of preparation:

Ingredients for Puttanesca Sauce:

• Olive oil, as needed
• 1 cup of black olives
• 3 cloves of minced garlic
• 30g of capers (optional)
• 35g of fresh anchovies
• 5 bay leaves
• Thyme, to taste
• Red bell pepper or spicy chili pepper, to taste
• 600g of thin spaghetti
• 5 medium to large tomatoes (peeled and diced)

How to Make Puttanesca Sauce

1. First, fill a large pot with plenty of water and bring it to a medium-high heat until it boils.
2. Then, start preparing the tomato sauce. Heat a drizzle of oil in a skillet.
3. Add the minced garlic cloves and sauté them for a few seconds, being careful not to let them burn. Then, add the anchovies and cook them for a few minutes.
4. Once the anchovies have broken down, it’s time to add the diced tomatoes, preferably without seeds. Sprinkle thyme and bay leaves to taste.
5. Once the tomatoes have broken down, add the thinly sliced bell pepper or chili pepper and let the liquids reduce by half.
6. Next, when the oil separates, add the chopped black olives, a few more anchovies to taste, and optionally the capers.
7. While the sauce simmers over moderate heat, make sure the water for the spaghetti is ready. Add the pasta and let it cook for about 10 minutes, or until al dente.
8. Finally, when the spaghetti is al dente, drain it and add it to the skillet.
9. Sauté everything together in the pan for a few minutes so that the flavors blend well. It’s now ready to be served and enjoyed!

Feel free to garnish your puttanesca sauce with some fresh herbs, such as parsley or basil, and serve it with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese. Buon appetito!