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–+ servings
assassin's spaghetti in a white bowl with burrata cheese.

Spaghetti all'Assassina

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Author: Nico Pallotta

  • 10 ounces (280 grams) spaghetti
  • 3 tablespoons (3 tablespoons) extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves (3 cloves) garlic peeled and halved
  • ½ teaspoon (½ teaspoon) red pepper flakes more or less to taste
  • ¾ cup (180 grams) tomato paste the thick one that comes in a tube or small can
  • 2 cups (500 grams) tomato puree or passata
  • 4 cups (1 Liter) vegetable broth
  • ¾ teaspoons (¾ teaspoons) salt
  • 3 small (3 small) burrata * optional

  • Heat 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a skillet large enough to contain the spaghetti.
    Add 3 cloves garlic cut in half and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, and sauté gently for a minute or until you smell the garlic’s fragrant aroma.
    Stir in ¾ cup tomato paste and cook it in the oil for a minute or until it turns a darker shade of red.
    Tomato sauce cooking in a white skillet with a wooden spatula.
  • Add 2 cups tomato puree, 2 of the 4 cups vegetable broth, ¾ teaspoons salt, and 10 ounces spaghetti.
    Cover the spaghetti with the sauce and simmer for 8 to 12 minutes or until cooked. Add more broth if necessary.
    Try not to touch the pasta much.
    Adding spaghetti to assassin's sauce in a white skillet.
  • You should allow the spaghetti to stick to the pan and slightly char. You might want to turn the pasta once or twice, but no more than that.
    Serve directly in the pan or on a plate with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
    Charred spaghetti in assassin's sauce with a spatula.
  • We recommend adding burrata or soft white cheese on top to make this spaghetti all’Assasina a complete meal and to soften the intensity of the tomato-chili sauce.
    Assassin's spaghetti served with burrata cheese in a white bowl.
SUBSTITUTIONS
  • Spaghetti: Substitute linguine.
  • Extra virgin olive oil: Substitute regular olive oil.
  • Red pepper flakes: Substitute dried chilis.
  • Burrata: optional, as a topping. Substitute buffalo mozzarella, stracciatella cheese, or whole milk ricotta for burrata.
STORAGE
  • Make ahead: Spaghetti all'Assassina is a quick an easy meal and we don't recommend preparing it in advance as the texture of the pasta will deteriorate.
  • Refrigerator: You can keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 36 hours.
  • Reheat: You can warm pasta in a microwave for a couple of minutes, or in a skillet with some olive oil.
  • Nutrition information is an estimate for 1 serving of spaghetti all'assassina out of 3 servings, without burrata.
TIPS
  • Note 1: the most difficult step is to understand when the pasta is slightly charred but not burnt. You want some charring to crisp up the texture of the spaghetti and infuse the sauce with a smokey and slightly bitter flavor that contrasts the sweetness and spiciness of the tomato sauce. If done well this dish is divine!
  • Note 2: if you prefer not to char the pasta then all you have to do is stir it more often. The dish will still be delicious and very creamy.
  • What is Burrata? Burrata is an Italian cow's milk cheese that looks like a mozzarella. The outer layer is made of mozzarella, and the inside is filled with cream and stracciatella, another soft Italian cheese.
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