Pasta Arrabbiata Recipe: Simple Italian Tomato Chilli Pasta
Arrabbiata means angry in Italian, and the name comes from the chilli. It is one of the simplest pasta sauces you can make: garlic, tomato and chilli, with a good amount of olive oil. Five ingredients, 25 minutes and it tastes like a restaurant dish.
In This Guide
Did You Know?
Arrabbiata means “angry” in Italian, a nod to the chilli heat in the sauce. It is a simple Roman-style sauce of garlic, tomato and dried red chilli, cooked quickly. It tastes best when it is not over-complicated.
Ingredients
- Boil the pasta in well salted water until al dente. Keep 1/2 cup of the pasta water and drain.
- 200 g penne or any pasta
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 to 2 tsp red chilli flakes, to taste
- 4 ripe tomatoes, chopped (or 1 cup tomato puree)
- Salt, a pinch of sugar, basil or parsley
- Grated parmesan (optional)
Method
- Heat the oil in a pan on low heat. Add garlic and chilli flakes and cook for 1 minute, without browning the garlic.
- Add the tomatoes and salt. Simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until thick. Add a pinch of sugar if the tomatoes are sharp.
- Add the pasta and a splash of pasta water. Toss for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce coats the pasta.
- Finish with herbs and cheese.
Pan Tip
Tomato sauce is acidic and simmers for a while, so use a triply stainless steel pan. It heats evenly and does not react with the tomato. Our triply fry pans and pots are a good fit. See how to keep them clean.
Shop Triply Fry Pans And Pots →Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Burning the garlic. It turns bitter. Cook it gently until it smells fragrant.
- Adding all the chilli at once. Taste and add more if you want more heat.
- Draining all the pasta water. A splash helps the sauce cling to the pasta.
Storage and Reheating
The sauce keeps for 4 days in the fridge or can be frozen. Cook the pasta fresh.
Quick Answers
Which pasta works best?
Penne is the classic choice, but any short pasta works.
How do I make it milder?
Use fewer chillies, or remove the seeds before cooking.
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