Penne all'Arrabbiata Recipe

Name: Penne all'Arrabbiata
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 pound penne pasta (or spaghetti, if you prefer); 1/4 cup olive oil; 2 cloves garlic (peeled and finely minced); Crushed red pepper (to taste, or, 1 to 2 fresh hot chile peppers, stemmed, seeded, and finely sliced); 2/3 pound plum tomatoes (peeled, seeded, and chopped, or use a drained 1-pound can of tomatoes); 5 to 6 fresh basil leaves (chopped); Fine sea salt (to taste); 1 1/4 cups grated Pecorino Romano cheese (or, if you find it too sharp, 2/3 cup each of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and Pecorino Romano, mixed); Optional: 1 medium onion (peeled and finely chopped)

Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 15 mins

Total: 20 mins

Servings: 4 to 6 servings

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Arrabbiata means "angry," and this classic pasta dish, originating in the Lazio region around Rome, gets its name from the spicy tomato sauce, made with garlic and red chile peppers. Some variations add basil, onions, or oregano, but the most basic is just olive oil, tomatoes, garlic, and chile pepper. You can adjust the spice level or amount of garlic (though don't overdo it), to taste, and you can use any short, tubular pasta, such as ziti, or long, thin strand pasta, such as spaghetti.

In some parts of Italy, this same sauce is called "alla carrettiera," meaning "cart-driver's sauce."

This super-simple and quick pasta can be whipped up in little more time than it takes to boil the pasta, so it makes a great late-night snack or weeknight meal when you are tired and short on time and inspiration.

1 pound penne pasta (or spaghetti, if you prefer)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic (peeled and finely minced)
Crushed red pepper (to taste, or, 1 to 2 fresh hot chile peppers, stemmed, seeded, and finely sliced)
2/3 pound plum tomatoes (peeled, seeded, and chopped, or use a drained 1-pound can of tomatoes)
5 to 6 fresh basil leaves (chopped)
Fine sea salt (to taste)
1 1/4 cups grated Pecorino Romano cheese (or, if you find it too sharp, 2/3 cup each of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and Pecorino Romano, mixed)
Optional: 1 medium onion (peeled and finely chopped)

Gather the ingredients.

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Set a large pot of water to boil over high heat for the pasta.

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In a saucepan over medium heat, sauté the onion (if you are using it) and the garlic in half (2 tablespoons) of the oil, until fragrant and just barely golden - about 2 to 3 minutes.

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Add the crushed red peppers or the fresh chile pepper and cook for another 30 seconds, until fragrant.

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Add the tomatoes and lower the heat to low. Simmer, covered, while you cook the pasta.

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In the meantime, cook the pasta in the salted boiling water to al dente.

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Drain it and return it to the pot.

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Check the seasoning of the sauce and stir in the basil and the remainder of the oil.

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Pour the sauce over the pasta and toss to cover evenly.

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Serve the pasta with the grated cheese on the side.

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Enjoy!

Pairing Suggestions

Pair with a white wine from the Colli Albani, such as Fontana di Papa. A good secondo (main dish) to serve after this pasta primo would be Saltimbocca alla Romana.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
496	Calories
16g	Fat
71g	Carbs
19g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	496
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g	20%
Saturated Fat 5g	23%
Cholesterol 15mg	5%
Sodium 391mg	17%
Total Carbohydrate 71g	26%
Dietary Fiber 5g	17%
Protein 19g
Calcium 307mg	24%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.