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5.0 from 162 votes

Spaghetti Arrabiata

Spaghetti Arrabiata is a classic Italian dish is a quick and satisfying meal that’s downright delicious, packed with bold, spicy flavours, a touch of sweetness and plenty of depth. It features copious amounts of garlic, red chilli flakes for a fiery kick and high-quality chopped tomatoes, all balanced with the sweetness of onions and the freshness of basil.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 426 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 350 grams (12 oz) spaghetti
  • 2 tablespoons virgin olive oil plus an extra glug for the spaghetti
  • 1 medium red onion finely chopped
  • 4 fat cloves of garlic (or more) chopped
  • 400 grams (14oz) good quality tinned tomatoes chopped
  • 3 tablespoons basil leaves chopped, heaped spoons
  • 1 teaspoon red chilli flakes or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½-1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • grated parmesan for finishing

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Check the seasoning and add more salt if needed, as rinsing the pasta might have washed some of it away.
  4. Add the olive oil to a large frying pan and heat.
  5. 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.
  6. Next, add the choped tomatoes, chopped basil, chilli flakes, sugar and salt and pepper to the fried onions.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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

  • Using top-notch tomatoes and olive oil makes all the difference in Spaghetti Arrabiata.
  • With so few ingredients, you want each one to shine and be the best it can be. Quality ingredients ensure a richer, more flavourful sauce.
  • To check if your spaghetti is cooked al dente, consider the following factors:
  • To see if your sauce is thick enough, keep an eye on the sides of the pan.
  • At first, there'll be a lot of bubbling around the edges. As it cooks down, the bubbles will get smaller and less frequent, and the liquid will reduce.
  • You should also be able to draw a clear line thro
  • Texture - Al dente pasta should have a firm, slightly chewy texture. It shouldn't be soft or mushy.
  • Visual clues - When you break a strand of al dente spaghetti in half, it should have a white, starchy core. If the pasta is uniformly translucent, it's overcooked. If it's opaque or hard in the centre, it's undercooked.

Nutrition Information

Calories 426kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 74g (25%) Protein 13g (26%) Fat 9g (14%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 5g Sodium 20mg (1%) Potassium 497mg (14%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 7g (14%) Vitamin A 1038IU (21%) Vitamin C 17mg (19%) Calcium 44mg (4%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 426

% 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.