A simple tomato pasta sauce that has a kick of heat and plenty of flavour. This Penne Arrabbiata recipe shows that vegan food doesn't have to be boring or complicated. And it's ready in just 15 minutes!
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Step by step
One: Add the pasta to a pan of boiling water and simmer for 12 minutes.
Two: Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the chilli and garlic and cook on a low heat for 1-2 minutes.
Three: Add the chopped tomatoes and salt and pepper to the pan and stir well and simmer until the pasta is ready.
Four: Drain the pasta (reserving a little of the water) and add to the sauce along with the basil.
Five: Stir well and serve.
What is Arrabbiata?
Originating in the Lazio area of Rome in Italy, Arrabbiata sauce, also known as sugo all'arrabbiata, is a spicy sauce for pasta. It is made from garlic, tomatoes, and dried red chilies cooked in olive oil. The word Arrabbiata, literally translates to 'angry', so this is an angry (or spicy) sauce!
Why should you try it?
- Ready in 15 minutes
- Easy to make as spicy or mild as you like
- Simple, natural ingredients that you probably have in your cupboard
How spicy is it?
You can tell from the translation, 'angry sauce', that this is going to be spicy! Of course, you can adjust the amount of chilies that you put in to make it milder, but then it will only be an 'annoyed sauce', and that sounds silly! If you still want a tomato pasta sauce, without the kick of heat, try our Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce or Marinara recipes.
What to serve it with
This is a light and simple meal, but one with plenty of flavour, so just a sprinkling of grated Parmesan is really all that's needed. If you wanted to bulk it out with something else, or just add some protein, you could add some cooked chicken or prawns (shrimp). Keep it vegetarian by adding some cubes of grilled halloumi or, to keep it vegan, some tofu.
FAQs
Any pasta will work, but pasta is made in different shapes and sizes for a reason. The best is penne as the tube shape holds the sauce well and means you will have a tasty mouthful each time. Other good pastas for Arrabbiata are rigatoni, macaroni or paccheri. You can use fussili too, if that is all you have, but that pasta is better suited to thinner sauces.
This sauce will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, if kept in an airtight container. To freeze, put in an airtight container and leave a gap of about 1cm (0.5 inch), before putting the lid on. Freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, defrost fully and then heat in a pan on the hob (stove top).
Extra tips
- You could adapt the amount of chilli though to suit more delicate pallets and make it kid friendly, but the whole point of this dish is for it to have a bit of a kick to it.
- A teaspoon of fish sauce in the recipe will add a real savoury depth to the sauce. This will no longer be vegetarian/vegan if you include this.
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Recipe
Penne Arrabbiata
Ingredients
- 140 g penne pasta
- 1 teaspoon dried red chilli flakes
- 3 garlic cloves crushed
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 400 g chopped tomatoes canned
- 2 tablespoon tomato puree
- 1 pinch sea salt and black pepper
- 4 tablespoon fresh basil finely chopped
- 15 g parmesan optional
Instructions
- Add the pasta to a pan of boiling water and simmer for 12 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the chilli and garlic and cook on a low heat for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree and salt and pepper to the pan and stir well and simmer until the pasta is ready.
- Drain the pasta (reserving a little of the water) and add to the sauce along with the basil.
- Stir well and serve.
Notes
- You could adapt the amount of chilli though to suit more delicate pallets and make it kid friendly, but the whole point of this dish is for it to have a bit of a kick to it.
- A teaspoon of fish sauce in the recipe will add a real savoury depth to the sauce. This will no longer be vegetarian/vegan if you include this.
Jessica
I love Penne that I can eat any kind of sauce on it. Haha. This is a simple yet yummy dish. Have to try this.
Harriet from Toby & Roo
So yummy! I love arrabiata sauce, it is just my kind of thing :)
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours
Arrabiata is one of my favourite pasta sauces, packed with flavour and easy to make ahead and freeze.
Jacqui Paterson (@Jax2000)
Anything with chilli and garlic automatically gets a thumbs up from me! ;) This would be a great pre-gym carb dish. x
Charli Bruce
Arrabiata is one of my favourite dishes to date! My dad used to make the best one and I try to make it at least once a fortnight, your recipe is quite similar! x
Anosa
What a delicious looking dish, I am all about simple recipes and I am loving this in buckets
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
The simple dishes are sometimes the best right?
Trish @ Rhubarbarians
Oh man. I LOVE dairy! It would be so hard to give up cheese! We do try to eat vegan a few times a week though. This looks like a great recipe!
Fashion and Style Police
I love the look of this dish. Looks very delicious.
Melanie @ Nutritious Eats
Ahh, pasta. So good and I love anything with a little heat!
emmabuzzybee
looks indeed very yummy :) i love my pasta, but tend to get stuck into the same recipes, i must try harder!
however, really sensitive to garlic and spice, so have to avoid it.
nicol
i do love a classic penne arrabiata. you can never go wrong with it
Mandee Pogue
I love a great spicy sauce, and your recipe sounds AMAZING! Great photography as well! It made my mouth water!
Anna @AnnaTheApple
I love the British thing. So true. We hate to make a fuss right? Don't want to make any waves, especially in public!!
The flavours sound so tasty. I'm not a pasta fan but the sauce is right up my street.
Klauss
This is a very simple and very tasty dish! The cat helped to cook?
Lisa (Travel Loving Family)
Yum yum yum! This sounds lovely (and healthy!) Your photos are great too
Alison
This is one of my favourite dishes, you can never have to many tomatoes in my book! Love your cat
Tandy | Lavender and Lime
This is Dave's favourite pasta to order when we eat out as it's got too much chilli for my palate
Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog
I hope you figure out your food sensitivities, I know how hard that can be! Pasta is one of the best comfort foods, and this arrabiata sounds totally delicious!
Ami@NaiveCookCooks
Girl this is my FAVORITE pastas of all time!! I mean seriously, last time when I went Rome this is what I WAS EATING EVERY. SINGLE.NIGHT. So good with the spicy kick! Hope you are enjoying summer :)