Pasta Arrabbiata Recipe
Pasta Arrabbiata is a classic Italian dish known for its spicy and flavorful tomato sauce. Made with garlic, cayenne chili, and crushed tomatoes, this easy-to-make recipe delivers a perfect balance of heat and savory notes. Tossed with your choice of pasta and fresh basil, it’s a vibrant, comforting meal ideal for a quick lunch or dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Arrabbiata Sauce
- ½ medium onion, finely chopped
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed or minced
- 1 fresh cayenne chili pepper, chopped (remove seeds if less heat is desired)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomato
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 6–8 basil leaves, chopped
Pasta
- 8–12 ounces pasta of choice
Optional Garnish
- Freshly grated Parmigiano cheese
- Additional chopped basil or parsley
Instructions
- Make the Arrabbiata Sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large heavy-duty skillet over medium-high heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook on medium heat for 5-7 minutes until the edges turn golden. Add the crushed or minced garlic, chopped cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes, sautéing for about 30 seconds until the garlic is just beginning to turn golden. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and season generously with salt and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat, partially cover with a lid, and let it simmer gently for 15-20 minutes to develop the flavors.
- Cook Pasta: While the sauce simmers, fill a large pot about two-thirds full with water and season generously with salt. Bring the water to a boil, add the pasta, and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta thoroughly.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta directly into the simmering arrabbiata sauce along with ½ cup of the reserved pasta water. Stir in the chopped basil leaves and increase the heat slightly. Toss the pasta and sauce together for 2-3 minutes to marry the flavors and allow the sauce to cling nicely to the pasta.
- Serve: Remove from heat and portion the pasta into serving bowls. Garnish with additional fresh basil or parsley and sprinkle with freshly grated Parmigiano cheese if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy the spicy, comforting flavors of this classic Italian dish.
Notes
- Adjust the heat level by controlling the amount of cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes or by removing the seeds from the chili.
- Use good quality crushed tomatoes for best flavor.
- Reserve pasta water to help loosen the sauce and make it silky and cling to pasta.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the pasta with gluten-free pasta.
- Fresh basil enhances the flavor but can be substituted with parsley if desired.
Keywords: Pasta Arrabbiata, Spicy Pasta, Italian Pasta Recipe, Vegetarian Italian, Quick Pasta Sauce
Find it online: https://tastybynova.com/pasta-arrabbiata-recipe/
