Spaghetti All’Assassina Recipe
Spaghetti All’Assassina is a fiery and intensely flavorful Italian pasta dish made by slowly cooking spaghetti in a spiced tomato broth until it charred slightly and absorbs a rich, thick sauce. This method combines tossing the pasta with a garlicky red pepper and tomato base, gradually adding broth, and allowing the pasta to cook in the skillet, creating a unique, slightly crispy texture and bold flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Sauce
- 5 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 3 cups tomato passata or puree
- 2 cups (or more) low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
For the Pasta
- 8 oz. spaghetti
Instructions
- Heat the Oil and Aromatics: In a large 10″ to 11″ skillet over medium-low heat, heat the extra-virgin olive oil. Add the finely chopped garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, cooking and stirring until the garlic begins to soften and the oil takes on a golden hue from the red pepper flakes, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste and cook, stirring continuously, until the garlic is lightly golden and the tomato paste breaks into tiny clusters, about 1 minute.
- Prepare Tomato Broth and Add Spaghetti: In a medium bowl, mix together the tomato passata and chicken broth. Increase the skillet heat to medium-high. Lay the spaghetti flat in the skillet, then add 1 cup of the tomato broth mixture over the pasta. Cook undisturbed until the liquid evaporates and leaves a thickened paste coating the bottom of the skillet and the spaghetti, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Unstick and Season: Use a metal spatula to gently unstick the spaghetti as it begins to char or burn on one side. Sprinkle the kosher salt over the pasta and pour in another 1 cup of the tomato broth. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the liquid nearly evaporates and thickens into a sauce, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Gradually Add Broth and Finish Cooking: Gradually add the remaining tomato broth, continuing to cook and stir occasionally. Allow the spaghetti to cook in the broth until it reaches an al dente texture, develops charred spots, and the sauce firmly adheres to the pasta, approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Adjust broth quantity if needed during cooking to ensure the pasta is not dry and the sauce remains thick.
Notes
- Use a metal spatula to prevent scratching the skillet and to help unstick the pasta as it chars.
- Maintain medium-high heat to develop the signature char without burning the pasta.
- Gradually adding broth helps create a thick sauce that clings to the pasta and allows the noodles to cook evenly.
- Spaghetti All’Assassina is traditionally a spicy dish, adjust red pepper flakes according to your heat preference.
- Low-sodium chicken broth is recommended to control the saltiness of the final dish.
Keywords: Spaghetti All'Assassina, Italian pasta, spicy pasta, charred spaghetti, tomato sauce pasta, one-pan pasta
Find it online: https://flavorsbymaya.com/spaghetti-allassassina-recipe/
