Penne Allarrabbiata Spicy Sauce (Print Version)

Bold penne with a fiery tomato sauce brightened by garlic and chili flakes for easy cooking.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz penne rigate

→ Sauce

02 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
03 - 4 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
04 - 1–2 tsp red chili flakes
05 - 28 oz peeled whole tomatoes, hand-crushed
06 - 1 tsp sea salt
07 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Finishing

08 - 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
09 - Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling

# Recipe Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced garlic and red chili flakes. Sauté gently until aromatic but not browned, about 1 minute.
03 - Add crushed tomatoes, sea salt, and black pepper. Simmer uncovered for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens slightly.
04 - Add drained penne to the skillet. Toss thoroughly, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and coat the pasta evenly.
05 - Remove from heat. Stir in chopped parsley and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Serve hot, garnished with additional parsley if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like you've been cooking all day, but you haven't—seriously, thirty minutes start to finish.
  • The heat builds slowly and sneaks up on you in the best way, making every bite interesting.
  • No cream, no fussy techniques, just good olive oil and tomatoes doing exactly what they should do.
02 -
  • Pasta water is magic—it's starchy and helps the sauce cling to every piece, so don't skip reserving it.
  • The garlic has to stay pale gold, never brown, or it turns bitter and ruins the whole thing.
  • Cooking the sauce while the pasta finishes means everything comes together hot, which makes all the difference.
03 -
  • Don't even think about adding cream or cheese unless you want to change the dish into something else entirely.
  • Cook the sauce the entire time the pasta cooks—this synchronization is what makes it feel effortless.
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