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Spaghetti alla carrettiera
Spaghetti with raw tomato and chilli
Spaghetti alla carrettiera: Sicilian carters' spaghetti with raw tomato, garlic and chilli
The carrettieri were the cart drivers who hauled goods across Sicily, and this was the pasta they could make on the road with whatever they carried: raw tomatoes, garlic, chilli, basil and olive oil, tossed with hot spaghetti and never cooked. Around Palermo and Catania it is still a summer lunch when the kitchen is too hot to light the stove for long; some families finish it with toasted breadcrumbs instead of cheese. Chef's tip: salt the chopped tomatoes and leave them for 20 minutes; they release juice that becomes the sauce once the hot pasta hits it.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 14 oz spaghetti
- 1 tbsp coarse saltfor the pasta water
- 1 ⅓ lb very ripe tomatoesfinely chopped
- 1 tsp saltfor the tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlicgrated or crushed
- ½ tsp dried chilli flakes
- 20 basil leavestorn
- 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ⅜ oz dried breadcrumbs (optional)toasted in 1 tbsp oil
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: In a large serving bowl, mix 1 ⅓ lb very ripe tomatoes with 1 tsp salt, 2 cloves garlic, ½ tsp dried chilli flakes, 20 basil leaves and 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil. Leave for 20 minutes at room temperature, until a pool of pink juice forms.
20 minStep 2: Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add 1 tbsp coarse salt and cook 14 oz spaghetti until al dente.
10 minStep 3: If using 1 ⅜ oz dried breadcrumbs, toast them in a dry pan for 2–3 minutes, until golden, and set aside.
Step 4: Drain the spaghetti, keeping a splash of water, and tip it straight onto the tomatoes. Toss well for 1 minute, until the pasta is coated and warmed the sauce through. Common mistake: draining the pasta too early and letting it sit; it must go in hot so it soaks up the tomato juices.
Step 5: Add a little pasta water if it looks dry, scatter the breadcrumbs over and serve.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 470 kcal
- Protein
- 13 g
- Carbs
- 76 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does spaghetti alla carrettiera take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 10 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.
- What can I use instead of spaghetti?
- Linguine or any long pasta, same amount.
- What can I use instead of very ripe tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
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