This vegan puttanesca sauce without anchovies is full of bold, briny flavor. It’s a delicious and hearty plant-based version of a classic, Italian-inspired dish. This sauce has no shortage of flavor, thanks to generous amounts of capers and olives in the sauce.

What to serve with this puttanesca sauce without anchovies

Toss this sauce with any type of pasta you like. This recipe makes enough sauce for six servings of pasta. And if you’re looking for a first course to pair with this puttanesca pasta, try some salad greens tossed with this simple maple vinaigrette dressing. It’s easy to make and has a satisfying balance of sweet and savory flavors.

How to make it

This puttanesca sauce without anchovies is really easy to make. Start by sautéing some garlic in a bit of extra virgin olive oil in a large pot on the stove. Don’t allow the garlic to brown, just give it a quick sauté to cook the garlic through.

Next you’ll add the strained tomatoes, dried oregano, and dried chilli flakes. You can substitute crushed tomatoes if you can’t find any strained tomatoes (I like the strained tomatoes sold in glass jars that are made with Italian tomatoes).

You could also substitute fresh chopped tomatoes if you prefer. Just chop them up and toss them in the pot. You could also use a combination of fresh and canned tomatoes.

When the sauce is almost done simmering, you’ll add the olives and capers so they’ll have enough time to warm through and thoroughly flavor the sauce, but not so much time that they disintegrate.

Any type of olives work well in this vegan puttanesca recipe, but the bigger the better. I used Kalamata olives this time and cut them in quarters, leaving them nice and chunky.

The capers add an extra layer of salty, briny flavor to this dish, so definitely don’t leave those out. Be sure to drain the capers before adding them to the sauce or the flavor of their brine will overpower the sauce.

Toss the sauce with any type of cooked pasta you like. The final touch that pulls this pasta dish together is a garnish of fresh herbs at the end. Either basil or parsley add a hit of freshness that goes nicely with the briny flavor of the capers and olives.

Pasta with olives and capers on a plate.

Storage

Store this puttanesca sauce without anchovies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.

More vegan dinner recipes

This pasta with tahini sauce is luscious and creamy. It’s easy to make and full of bright, lemony flavor.
Or try these vegan stuffed mushrooms when you’re craving comfort food.
This creamy vegan tomato pasta is perfect for entertaining.
These oven roasted radishes are a flavor-loaded alternative to potatoes.

5 from 1 vote

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