Spaghetti Arrabiata
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
5 mins
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Cook Time
15 mins
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Total Time
20 mins
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Servings
4 servings
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Calories
426 kcal
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Course
Side Dish, Main Course
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Cuisine
Italian
Spaghetti Arrabiata
Description
This Spaghetti Arrabiata recipe starts by cooking spaghetti al dente in well-salted water, then briefly rinsing and tossing with olive oil to prevent sticking. The sauce is prepared by gently sautéing finely chopped onions and garlic until soft without browning, preserving their sweetness. Good-quality canned tomatoes and chopped fresh basil are added along with red chili flakes, sugar to balance acidity, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
The sauce simmers on medium-low heat with frequent stirring until it thickens slightly, concentrating the flavors and reducing excess liquid. Tossing the hot spaghetti in this vibrant sauce allows the noodles to absorb the combination of spicy, tangy, and herby notes. Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top adds a savory finish.
This dish is well suited for a quick yet flavorful meal, offering a confident balance between heat and fresh ingredients. Top-quality olive oil and tomatoes impact the depth of its final flavor significantly, making ingredient choice important.
Checking for al dente doneness ensures the pasta has a firm texture with a slightly starchy core. Watching the sauce for the visual clues of smaller bubbles along the edges helps gauge when it has thickened adequately.
Ingredients
- 350 grams spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons olive oil plus an extra glug for the spaghetti, virgin
- 1 medium red onion finely chopped
- 4 garlic chopped, fat cloves, or more
- 400 grams tinned tomatoes chopped, good quality
- 3 tablespoons basil chopped, heaped spoons, leaves
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes or to taste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½-1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- black pepper to taste, freshly ground
- Parmesan Cheese grated, for finishing
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti al dente according to the package instructions. Use plenty of water for cooking and generously salt the water. You'll need roughly just under a tablespoon for this amount of pasta.
- Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse it with cold water. Then, put the pasta back into the pan and toss it with a splash of oil to prevent it from sticking together.
- Check the seasoning and add more salt if needed, as rinsing the pasta might have washed some of it away.
- Add the olive oil to a large frying pan and heat.
- Gently sauté the chopped onions and garlic over medium-low heat until the onions are soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. If the onions start to brown too quickly, turn the heat down slightly.
- Next, add the choped tomatoes, chopped basil, chilli flakes, sugar and salt and pepper to the fried onions.
- Simmer the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly. This can take up to 5 minutes, depending on the surface area of your pan.
- Add the cooked spaghetti to the pan and toss it in the spicy tomato sauce. Continue tossing over low heat for about 4 minutes, until the pasta is heated through.
- Generously top with fresh Parmesan cheese, add a few extra grinds of black pepper and top with more fresh basil leaves. Spoon into bowls and serve.
Notes
- Use quality tomatoes and virgin olive oil for a richer, fuller sauce flavor.
- Ensure pasta is cooked al dente: firm and slightly chewy, not mushy or overcooked.
- Watch the sauce as it simmers; bubbles will become smaller and less frequent as it thickens.
- Test pasta doneness by breaking a strand; a white core indicates al dente.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 426 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 426kcal | 21% |
| Carbohydrates | 74g | 25% |
| Protein | 13g | 26% |
| Fat | 9g | 14% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Sodium | 20mg | 1% |
| Potassium | 497mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 1038IU | 21% |
| Vitamin C | 17mg | 19% |
| Calcium | 44mg | 4% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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