Spaghetti Arrabbiata

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Spaghetti arrabbiata is a tasty Italian dish that you can make at home. It’s pasta with a spicy tomato sauce. You can make this meal in just 30 minutes with a few simple ingredients. The sauce has garlic, chili peppers, and tomatoes. It’s mixed with spaghetti and topped with cheese.

This recipe serves four people and is easy to make. You’ll need olive oil, onions, garlic, chili peppers, tomatoes, and spaghetti. The sauce cooks while you boil the pasta. Then you mix them together and add some cheese on top. It’s a great choice for a quick dinner that’s full of flavor.

Exact Ingredients List

Here’s what you’ll need to make this tasty spaghetti arrabbiata:

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion or shallot, diced
• 4-6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or minced
• 2-3 fresh chili peppers, seeded and finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 16 ounces spaghetti
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, roughly chopped (plus more for garnish)
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish

This recipe serves 4 people. It takes about 10 minutes to prep and 20 minutes to cook. Each serving has around 318 calories.

Remember to have a large skillet and a pot for cooking pasta. You’ll also want to keep some pasta water after cooking the spaghetti. This can help thin out the sauce if needed.

Feel free to adjust the amount of chili peppers to make the dish more or less spicy. You can also add more basil or Parmesan if you like!

Instructions

Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a big pan over medium-low heat. Toss in the diced onion, sliced garlic, and chopped chili peppers. Stir often for 5-7 minutes. Keep an eye on the garlic so it doesn’t burn!

Add 2 tablespoons tomato paste and stir for 2-3 minutes. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, sugar, salt, and pepper. Mix well and let it bubble gently for 10-15 minutes. Stir now and then.

While the sauce cooks, boil the spaghetti in salty water until it’s firm to the bite. Save a cup of pasta water before draining.

Take the sauce off the heat when it’s thick. Mix in the chopped basil. Taste and add more salt or pepper if you like.

Toss the cooked spaghetti with the sauce. If it’s too thick, splash in some pasta water.

Serve your spicy spaghetti right away! Top with extra basil and grated Parmesan if you want. Enjoy your tasty meal!

Possible Substitutes List

You can swap out some ingredients in this spaghetti arrabbiata recipe to suit your taste or what’s in your pantry. Here are some easy switches:

Pasta:

• Penne
• Linguine
• Fettuccine

Chili peppers:

• Red pepper flakes (1-2 tsp)
• Cayenne pepper (1/4-1/2 tsp)

Tomatoes:

• Whole canned tomatoes, crushed by hand
• Fresh tomatoes, diced (about 3 cups)

Herbs:

• Dried basil (1 tsp) instead of fresh
• Fresh parsley

If you’re out of tomato paste, use an extra 1/2 cup of crushed tomatoes. For a dairy-free option, skip the Parmesan or use nutritional yeast.

Want to add protein? Try these:

• Grilled chicken
• Cooked shrimp
• White beans

You can make this dish your own by mixing and matching these substitutes. Just keep the cooking times in mind if you switch up the pasta shape.

How To Make It Diabetes-Friendly

You can enjoy spaghetti arrabbiata even if you have diabetes. Here are some easy tweaks to make the dish more diabetes-friendly:

Use whole wheat pasta instead of regular spaghetti. Whole wheat pasta has more fiber, which helps slow down sugar absorption.

Cut the pasta portion to 1 cup cooked per person. This keeps carbs in check while still letting you enjoy the dish.

Add extra veggies to your sauce. Try mixing in diced bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach. More veggies means more nutrients and fiber.

Skip the added sugar in the sauce recipe. The natural sweetness from tomatoes is often enough.

Go easy on the Parmesan cheese topping. A little goes a long way for flavor without adding too many calories.

Try these swaps to lower the glycemic impact:

• Replace half the pasta with spiralized zucchini noodles
• Use a sugar substitute instead of regular sugar
• Add a can of white beans for extra protein and fiber

Remember to check your blood sugar after eating to see how this meal affects you. Everyone’s body responds differently to foods.

Tips, Tricks & Storing

For the best spaghetti arrabbiata, use high-quality ingredients. San Marzano tomatoes are ideal for the sauce. They have a sweet flavor that balances the spice nicely.

Adjust the heat to your liking. Start with less chili and add more if needed. You can also use red pepper flakes instead of fresh chili peppers.

Don’t overcook your pasta! Aim for al dente – it should have a slight bite to it. This texture pairs well with the chunky sauce.

Save some pasta water before draining. It’s full of starch and helps the sauce stick to your spaghetti. Add a splash if your sauce is too thick.

Here’s a quick guide for storing leftovers:

Storage Method	Time
Refrigerator	3-5 days
Freezer	Up to 3 months

To reheat, warm the pasta in a pan with a splash of water. Stir gently to prevent breaking the noodles. You can also use a microwave, but the stovetop method gives better results.

For extra flavor, try adding some grated Pecorino Romano cheese on top. It’s sharper than Parmesan and complements the spicy sauce well.