Name: Vegan Pasta Puttanesca
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 8 ounces pasta use spaghetti, bucatini; 28 ounces crushed tomatoes; 0.5 cup pitted kalamata olives; 2 tablespoons non pareil capers; 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 1 tbsp olive brine; 3 cloves garlic; 1 tsp red pepper flakes; Salt and pepper

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Vegan Pasta Puttanesca

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Vegan Pasta Puttanesca

Instructions

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Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta al dente, according to package directions. Once cooked, drain the water reserving at least ½ cup of pasta water.

As the pasta cooks, make the puttanesca sauce in a large pan. Heat a large pan over low-medium heat and add crushed tomatoes, olives, olive brine, olive oil, capers, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.

Let the sauce simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking. Once the sauce has cooked down, add the cooked and drained pasta to the pan. Toss the pasta in the sauce to fully coat.

Optionally, ladle in reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time to bring the sauce together. The pasta water helps thicken the sauce, making it cling to the noodles. It also helps prevent the pasta from drying out.

Nutrition

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Brine Reduction Technique 🧂
Reserve 2-3 tablespoons of the olive brine from your caper and olive jars to add directly to the sauce—this concentrated salty liquid amplifies umami and eliminates the need for additional salt.
Blooming Garlic in Oil 🧄
Toast minced garlic in extra virgin olive oil over medium heat for 60-90 seconds before adding tomatoes to unlock deep, sweet aromatic flavors without any bitterness.
Pasta Water Emulsion 💧
Reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta cooking water and add 2-3 tablespoons to your sauce just before tossing—this creates a silky, cohesive sauce that clings beautifully to the pasta strands.
Non Pareil Capers vs Standard 🫒
Non pareil capers are smaller and more delicate than larger varieties; add them in the final 2 minutes of cooking to preserve their briny punch and tender texture rather than simmering them throughout.
Red Pepper Flake Tempering 🌶️
Bloom red pepper flakes in the hot garlic oil for 30 seconds to mellow their harsh edges and distribute heat evenly, preventing any mouth-burning hot spots in the finished dish.