Where does Spaghetti alla puttanesca come from?

Spaghetti alla puttanesca — country of origin: Italy.

What is Spaghetti alla puttanesca made of?

Spaghetti, San Marzano tomato, black olive, capers, anchovy, garlic, chilli, olive oil.

Which allergens does Spaghetti alla puttanesca contain?

Contains cereals and gluten-containing products. Contains fish and fish products.

How do you pronounce Spaghetti alla puttanesca?

Spaghetti alla puttanesca (Italian) is pronounced /spaˈɡetti alla puttaˈneska/.

Spaghetti alla puttanesca

Pronunciation (IPA) /spaˈɡetti alla puttaˈneska/

A Neapolitan-style pasta dressed with a sauce of tomato, garlic, olive oil, black olives, capers and anchovy, finished with chilli.

Also known as: Puttanesca sauce · Pasta puttanesca · Spaghetti puttanesca

Allergens & declarations

Contains

Cereals (gluten)

Wheat

Contains cereals and gluten-containing products

Fish

Contains fish and fish products

This describes the classic recipe, so you know what to ask about. It is not a declaration for any particular kitchen — recipes and suppliers vary, and only the restaurant can tell you what is in the dish it serves.

In detail

Spaghetti alla puttanesca is a pasta dish from southern Italy, made with spaghetti and a quick uncooked-base tomato sauce built on olives, capers and anchovies. It is a cooked sauce that is tossed with the pasta and served without cheese in its classic form.

What it really is

The sauce starts with garlic and anchovy melted in olive oil, with dried chilli for heat. Chopped tomato goes in and cooks down for a short time, then black olives and capers are added near the end. The sauce is tossed with freshly cooked spaghetti, with a splash of pasta water to bind it, and finished with flat-leaf parsley.

The dish is associated with Naples, but its origin is disputed. Several accounts link it to Naples in the mid-20th century, and the name is commonly explained by its strong flavours, though no single account is firmly documented. Look-alikes include arrabbiata, which relies on chilli and garlic in tomato without olives, capers or anchovy, and marinara, which is tomato with garlic and herbs and no salty additions.

How it's served

Served as a first course (primo) in a shallow bowl, usually unsprinkled with cheese
Eaten with a fork, often with a spoon to catch the sauce
Often finished with a little extra olive oil and chopped parsley at the table
Sometimes served with bread to wipe up the remaining sauce

Name the key ingredients: spaghetti, tomato, black olives, capers, anchovy, garlic, chilli
Flag allergens: wheat (pasta) and fish (anchovy); capers and olives carry no listed allergen
State that the dish is made without cheese in its classic form if the kitchen adds grated cheese
Note the heat level if chilli is used, and whether the olives are pitted

Typical ingredients

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Frequently asked questions

What is Spaghetti alla puttanesca?: A Neapolitan-style pasta dressed with a sauce of tomato, garlic, olive oil, black olives, capers and anchovy, finished with chilli.
Where does Spaghetti alla puttanesca come from?: Spaghetti alla puttanesca — country of origin: Italy.
What is Spaghetti alla puttanesca made of?: Spaghetti, San Marzano tomato, black olive, capers, anchovy, garlic, chilli, olive oil.
Which allergens does Spaghetti alla puttanesca contain?: Contains cereals and gluten-containing products. Contains fish and fish products.
What is Spaghetti alla puttanesca also known as?: Puttanesca sauce, Pasta puttanesca, Spaghetti puttanesca.
How do you pronounce Spaghetti alla puttanesca?: Spaghetti alla puttanesca (Italian) is pronounced /spaˈɡetti alla puttaˈneska/.