Asmara pasta al sugo
Eritrean spaghetti in a berbere-warmed tomato sauce
Pasta is part of everyday life in Asmara, a legacy of the Italian years, and in Eritrean homes and cafés 'pasta al sugo' means spaghetti in a slow tomato sauce warmed with berbere, garlic and plenty of onion. It is eaten on weekdays and after church on Sundays, often with a banana or a green chilli on the side. The usual sauce has minced beef; this one uses finely chopped mushrooms and carrot for the same body. Chef's tip: cook the onions and berbere slowly before the tomato goes in; raw berbere tastes dusty.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the sauce
For the pasta
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat 4 tbsp olive oil in a wide pan over a medium heat. Cook 2 onions for 12 minutes, stirring often, until soft and golden.
12 minStep 2: Add 4 cloves garlic, 1 carrot and 9 oz mushrooms and cook for 8 minutes until the mushroom liquid has evaporated and they start to brown.
8 minStep 3: Stir in 1 ½ tsp berbere and 2 tbsp tomato paste and fry for 2 minutes until dark red and fragrant.
2 minStep 4: Add 1 ¾ lb tinned chopped tomatoes, ¾ cup water, 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp sugar, bring to a simmer and cook gently, partly covered, for 25 minutes until thick and the oil glistens on top. Common mistake: rushing the sauce — in Asmara it is cooked until rich, not just warmed.
25 minStep 5: Meanwhile, cook 14 oz spaghetti in a large pan of boiling water with 1 tbsp salt until al dente. Drain, keeping a cup of the water.
10 minStep 6: Toss the spaghetti into the sauce with a splash of pasta water until coated. Serve with 4 green chillies on the side.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 560 kcal
- Protein
- 16 g
- Carbs
- 92 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fibre
- 9 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does asmara pasta al sugo take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of onions?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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