Shrimp with Chunky Cherry Tomato Puttanesca Sauce Recipe

By
Kerry Saretsky
a photograph of Kerry Seretsky, a contributing writer at Serious Eats.

Kerry Saretsky interned at Serious Eats in 2008, and wrote the French in a Flash recipe column. She also writes her own blog on modernized French cuisine called French Revolution Food.

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Updated March 28, 2025
20121224ShrimpPuttanesca-edit.jpg
Kerry Saretsky

A fresher version of the classic puttanesca: cherry tomatoes, fresh oregano, black olives, capers, fresh chilies, lemon zest, and olive oil. It stews in a pot for 10 minutes, and then makes the perfect base for a chunky shrimp stew (instead of the classic, but not guiltless, pasta). With some grilled bread, this is the perfect spicy, bright, healthy after-work dinner for two.

Recipe Details

Shrimp with Chunky Cherry Tomato Puttanesca Sauce Recipe

Cook 20 mins
Active 20 mins
Total 20 mins
Serves 2 servings
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 3 medium cloves garlic, sliced or chopped (about 1 tablespoon)

  • 1 Fresno or jalapeño chili pepper, seeded and finely sliced or chopped

  • 1 tablespoon capers, drained and rinsed

  • 35 pitted Kalamata olives, halved (about 1 cup)

  • 1 teaspoon anchovy paste (or 1 anchovy filet, mashed with a fork)

  • 1 pound cherry tomatoes (about 3 cups)

  • 1 pound large peeled and deveined shrimp

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves

  • 2 teaspoons grated zest from 1 whole lemon

Directions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the garlic and chilies and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the capers, olives, and anchovy paste, and stir around to combine. Add the tomatoes, toss to combine, cover, and cook, shaking occasionally, until tomatoes are cooked through and softened, about 10 minutes. Use a potato masher to roughly mash tomatoes. Add the shrimp, season to taste with salt and pepper, and cook just until opaque, 2 to 3 minutes (do not overcook). Add oregano and lemon zest and toss to combine. Serve as-is, or on top of cooked pasta.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
537Calories
26gFat
21gCarbs
55gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories537
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 26g34%
Saturated Fat 4g21%
Cholesterol 479mg160%
Sodium 2979mg130%
Total Carbohydrate 21g8%
Dietary Fiber 6g21%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 55g
Vitamin C 70mg348%
Calcium 307mg24%
Iron 4mg23%
Potassium 1045mg22%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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