puttanesca

American  

[poo-tuh-nes-kuh, poo-tah-ne-skah] / ˌpu təˈnɛs kə, ˌpu tɑˈnɛ skɑ /

adjective

1. Italian Cooking. served with or being a tomato sauce traditionally containing olives, capers, garlic, chile peppers, and sometimes anchovies.

   Entrees include many pasta dishes, from cheese-stuffed ravioli to pasta puttanesca.

   Tuna in olive oil is the perfect protein to stand up to a flavorful puttanesca sauce.

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Example Sentences

But I’d like to make the case for my pasta, which draws inspiration from classic spaghetti alla puttanesca while doubling down on the acidity, brightness and overall tang.

From Salon • May 1, 2026

Straight out of the tin, anchovies can be assertive, but their umami flavor can be judiciously harnessed, adding depth to Caesar salad dressing, pasta puttanesca and other recipes.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 30, 2023

Rife with briny capers, olives, garlic, red pepper flakes and basil, it’s something like a saucy, seafood version of puttanesca.

From Washington Times • Mar. 28, 2023

We made quick work of the pesto gnocchi and the tagliolini with mushroom and mozzarella; the puttanesca was less beloved.

From Slate • Jan. 13, 2023

After all, he’d had a furious outburst just because he’d wanted roast beef instead of puttanesca sauce.

From "The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket