Description
This Easy Spicy Spaghetti Arrabbiata is a vibrant and flavorful Italian pasta dish featuring a spicy tomato sauce made with garlic, red chili peppers, and aromatic herbs. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal, this recipe combines al-dente spaghetti with a robust, slightly spicy sauce garnished with fresh basil for an authentic taste experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 15 cloves peeled garlic
- 2 red chili peppers, seeded and chopped (optional)
- 3 peeled and sliced shallots
- 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 32 ounces cherry tomatoes
- 4 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 Tablespoon sea salt
Pasta Ingredients
- 16 ounces spaghetti, uncooked
Garnish
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté aromatics: In a large deep pot over medium-high heat, add the extra virgin olive oil, garlic, red chili peppers, shallots, crushed red pepper, dried oregano, and dried thyme. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes or until the mixture is fragrant and the shallots begin to soften.
- Simmer the sauce: Add the cherry tomatoes, tomato sauce, and sea salt to the pot. Reduce the heat to medium, cover the pot, and let the sauce simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until it has reduced by about one-third. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and encourage even cooking.
- Cook spaghetti: While the sauce simmers, cook the spaghetti in boiling salted water according to the package instructions until very al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the spaghetti, then set the pasta aside.
- Purée the sauce: Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce directly in the pot until smooth. If you do not have an immersion blender, carefully transfer the sauce in batches to a blender and pulse gently until smooth.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Pour the pureed sauce back into the pot if transferred, then add the cooked spaghetti. Gradually incorporate the reserved pasta water, stirring gently until the pasta and sauce reach the desired consistency.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish the pasta with fresh basil leaves for added aroma and flavor, then serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- For a milder sauce, reduce or omit the red chili peppers and crushed red pepper flakes.
- Reserve pasta water is key to adjusting the sauce texture to perfectly coat the spaghetti.
- Cooking spaghetti very al dente helps it finish cooking slightly in the sauce, enhancing flavor absorption.
- If fresh basil is unavailable, dried basil or parsley can be good substitutes for garnish.
- Use high-quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor impact in the sauce.
