ASSASSIN’S SPAGHETTI (SPAGHETTI ALL’ASSASSINA): SEEN ON THE STANLEY TUCCI SHOW

Spaghetti all’assassina is a quick and easy dish typical of the Bari tradition.

The original recipe is from Puglia and this pasta is made with simple and cheap ingredients.
Someone can mistake them for simple spaghetti with tomato sauce because in fact there are the same ingredients, however they are different because they are spicy and the final taste has its own personality.

YIELD: Serves 4
INGREDIENTS:
8 oz spaghetti
6 oz tomato puree (passata di pomodoro)
4 tbsp tomato paste (concentrato di pomodoro)
2 cloves chopped garlic
2 fresh red chillies or 1 tsp chilli flakes
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
salt to taste

NOTES:

FOR AN IDEAL RESULT IT IS RECOMMENDED TO USE AN IRON PAN ALREADY TREATED FOR USE.

METHOD:
1. Prepare a tomato broth by boiling the tomato concentrate with 3 cups of water and salt. Cook for at least 15 minutes. Remove from the heat once the sauce becomes thick.
2. In a heavy based or cast iron pan fry the garlic and chopped red chillies or chilli flakes
3. Now add the uncooked spaghetti.
4. Spread evenly with a wooden spoon to incorporate the flavours from the chilli and garlic. Let the spaghetti stick to the pan, it will start to caramelize.
You will hear a crackling sound and the spaghetti will start to bend, an indication that it’s time to turn things around. So now flip the cramalized side on top to repeat the same process.
Make sure to slightly char the pasta on both sides.
5. Add the tomato paste.
6.Let the liquids reduce before adding a ladle of the broth. Make sure not to move the spaghetti too much in the sauce.
Continue cooking and adding ladles of the broth until all the broth has been used and the spaghetti is al dente.
7. Let the sauce reduce for a few minutes. The spaghetti will be slightly charred and crunchy. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil.