Pilchard puttanesca
Spaghetti, red chilli and pilchards come together in this Italian pasta — 50 minutes, 5 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 5 steps.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and pan. At easy difficulty across 5 steps, it's a good one for a busy evening. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (5)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Cook the pasta following pack instructions.
- Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and cook the onion, garlic and chilli for 3-4 mins to soften.
- Stir in the tomato purée and cook for 1 min, then add the pilchards with their sauce.
- Cook, breaking up the fish with a wooden spoon, then add the olives and continue to cook for a few more mins.
- Drain the pasta and add to the pan with 2-3 tbsp of the cooking water. Toss everything together well, then divide between plates and serve, scattered with Parmesan.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Pan
Watch how it's made
Hosted on YouTube — pressing play loads content from YouTube.
Ingredient substitutions
- Parmesan
- pecorino · grana padano · aged asiago
What to serve with Pilchard puttanesca
- Spaghetti Bolognese Beef
- Spicy Arrabiata Penne Vegetarian
- Vegan Lasagna Vegan
- Mediterranean Pasta Salad Seafood
Tips & common questions
How long does Pilchard puttanesca take to make?
About 50 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 5 steps and 9 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of parmesan?
Try pecorino. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Pilchard puttanesca vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Recipe data for Pilchard puttanesca via TheMealDB (open database). ▶ Video. Original source. Consomee adds the scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.