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Pasta Puttanesca

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Punchy, salty, briny — pasta with tomatoes, olives, capers and anchovies. Twenty-minute store-cupboard hero. Allegedly invented by Naples' working women, hence the name.

Prep 5 mins
Cook 15 mins
Servings 4
Difficulty Easy
Per serving £0.94

Approx £3.76 total based on typical supermarket prices in GB. See yours →

S by Steven Tobin · Published 4 May 2026
Pasta Puttanesca

The recipe

Instructions

  1. 1
    Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and start cooking the pasta.
  2. 2
    Heat the oil gently in a wide pan with the sliced garlic, anchovies and chilli flakes. Cook 2 minutes — anchovies will dissolve.
  3. 3
    Add the chopped olives and capers, stir for 30 seconds, then tip in the tomatoes. Simmer 8 minutes.
  4. 4
    Drain the pasta (save a cup of water) and toss with the sauce. Add splashes of pasta water if needed.
  5. 5
    Finish with chopped parsley and a final drizzle of olive oil. No cheese — the anchovies and olives are salty enough.

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About Steven Tobin

Steven is the founder, recipe developer, and chief washer-upper at Budget Dinner Recipes. A passionate home cook from a big foodie family, he's spent years collecting and perfecting recipes from across the world — from Malaysian laksas and Kenyan curries to weeknight British classics. Family meals are at the heart of e…

View all recipes by Steven Tobin →

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