We spent two weeks exploring Rome, Italy and Paris, France and I came home itching to make my own French and Italian dishes. Like French Onion Soup, Croque Monsieur, Shrimp Scampi, and Chicken Piccata!
I first fell in love with Penne Arrabbiata when our family visited Italy and it was instantly one of my favorite dishes. It’s easy to win my heart when the dish is composed of pasta and a spicy tomato sauce. YUM.
Arrabbiata (or arrabiata) literally means “angry” in Italian, because the sauce in this dish is supposed to be “angry” spicy. The Italian name for it is sugo all’arrabbiata and I was surprised to find that Americans often spell it wrong. It’s supposed to be spelled with two b’s — arrabbiata, but it seems that most people are spelling it incorrectly with just one “b” — arrabiata. Luckily, it’s delicious even spelled wrong! And if you are worried about the heat, you can adapt the crushed red pepper measurements according to your tolerance for spice. Serve it with a green beans and warm crusty bread.
Arrabbiata Sauce (sugo all’arrabbiata):
This angry (spicy) Italian sauce is simple and elegant. I love the fresh flavors mixed in with it–the fresh parsley, basil and parmesan. Those three fresh ingredients are a must for this dish! Oh, and don’t forget to use a fresh parmesan, NOT the pre-shredded stuff, please!
How to make penne arrabbiata:
Cook pasta: penne or other desired pasta. Drain and set aside.
Make the arrabbiata sauce. Add oil, garlic, and crushed red pepper to a skillet over medium heat and cook for 30 seconds. Add the whole tomatoes, tomato paste, and simmer for 10 minutes before removing from heat and adding the fresh basil.
Add pasta and parmesan. Toss and enjoy.
Arrabbiata Variations:
Arrabbiata spaghetti: substitute spaghetti noodles. Add meat: ground beef, chicken, shrimp, chorizo, sausage, meatballs Add vegetables: grill desired vegetables (zucchini, pepper, onions, etc) in step 2, before adding tomatoes.
To Freeze:
Make the arrabbiata sauce and allow it to cool completely. Store it in a freezer safe container for 2-3 months. Reheat in a sauce pan on low heat. Make noodles fresh for serving.
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