Spaghetti all'Assassina
Crisped spaghetti cooked risotto-style in spicy tomato.
Ingredients
- 200 g Spaghetti
- 500 ml Tomato passata
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 1 tsp Red pepper flakes
- 4 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp Salt
Method
- Stir the passata together with an equal amount of water in a small pot to make a loose, pourable tomato broth. Add the minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt and keep it hot over low heat.
- Lay the dry spaghetti flat in the olive oil in a wide pan over medium-high heat and let it crisp and char on the underside before adding any broth.
- Add the hot broth a ladle at a time, letting the pasta crisp and char against the pan between additions, until the spaghetti is cooked through and browned.
- Serve straight from the pan.
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About Spaghetti all'Assassina
Spaghetti all'assassina, the killer spaghetti, is a modern classic from Bari in the Puglia region of southern Italy, invented in the twentieth century and treasured for defying every rule about how pasta should be cooked. Instead of boiling, the dry spaghetti is laid straight into hot oil in the pan and cooked risotto-style, absorbing ladlefuls of a spicy tomato broth while it crisps and chars against the metal. The name nods to its fierce chilli heat and, some say, the reckless abandon with which it treats the noodles.
The result is unlike any other pasta: strands that are simultaneously tender, browned, and genuinely crisp in places, carrying a concentrated, faintly bitter char alongside the sweet-sharp tomato and a real kick of red pepper. Passata thinned with water becomes the broth that both cooks and flavours the pasta, added a little at a time so the spaghetti can catch and crackle between additions. Achieving those crisp, blistered edges takes patience and a hot pan, but that texture is the entire reward. Naturally vegan and served straight from the skillet, it is a dish for people who like their pasta with bite and their food with attitude.
Spaghetti all'Assassina: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Spaghetti all'Assassina?
A serving has about 685 calories — 15.3g protein, 87.3g carbs, 30.6g fat, 6.2g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Spaghetti all'Assassina gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Spaghetti. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
How many servings does Spaghetti all'Assassina make?
This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.