Penne all'Arrabbiata (spicy tomato pasta)
Recipe video above. “Arrabbiata” means “angry” in Italian and refers to how the spiciness of this classic Italian pasta! I love how this simple dish is made interesting with a good kick of chilli.To be authentic, use whole peeled tomatoes and mash them up with a fork. For convenience, I use crushed tomatoes. SPICINESS - See Note 1.
- Prep time
- 5 min
- Cook time
- 20 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 400g/ 14oz penne or ziti (, or other pasta of choice (short or long))
- 1 tbsp cooking / kosher salt (, for cooking pasta)
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves (, finely minced)
- 1 red cayenne pepper chilli (, finely chopped (with seeds) (Note 2))
- 1/2 tsp chilli flakes ((red pepper flakes))
- 800g / 28 oz canned crushed tomato
- 1 1/4 tsp cooking / kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp white sugar (, only if needed (Note 3))
- parmesan (, finely grated)
- 2 tsp finely chopped parsley (, optional)
Instructions
- 1
Sauté - Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and stir for 10 seconds. Add cayenne and chilli flakes. Cook for 1 minute, or until garlic is light golden.
- 2
Add tomato, salt and pepper. Rinse out the tomato cans with the water and add into the pot.
- 3
Simmer - Turn up the heat to high, stir, then once it comes to a simmer, turn back down to medium heat and simmer for 15 minutes. (Taste check at 10 min – if sour, add the sugar.)
- 4
Cook pasta - Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to the boil with the 1 tablespoon of salt. Add pasta and cook per packet directions.
- 5
Save water – Just before draining, give the pot a big stir (to agitate the starch) then scoop out 1 cup of the water and set aside. (Note 4) Drain pasta.
- 6
Toss – Add pasta into the sauce along with 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Toss well (still on the stove) until the pasta is coated with the pasta sauce. Use extra pasta cooking water if needed, to loosen.
- 7
Serve - Divide between bowls and serve immediately with parmesan and parsley, if using.