Saturday, August 1, 2009

Spaghetti All'Arrabbiata with Crispy Garlic Crumbs


I've always preferred white/cream sauces to red sauces. I like rose sauces (a mix of red and white) but just never found a red sauce that I liked. But then I tried out this recipe and I actually quite like it. It's simple and easy to make, uses basic ingredients and tastes yummy! You don't have to make the crispy garlic crumbs but they are certainly delicious!

If this sounds good, you might also like:
Asparagus and Feta Pasta
Fresh Pear and Curry Pasta
Pasta with Creamy Spinach Walnut Sauce
Artichoke Rotini Pasta

Spaghetti All'Arrabbiata with Crispy Garlic Crumbs
Adapted from Rebar

1 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
3/4 tsp salt
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp red chile flakes, or more to taste
1 cup red wine
28 oz can whole or diced tomatoes (Ashley note: I use diced.)
4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
10 fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped (Ashley note: I think I used about 1 tbsp freeze dried basil?)
1/2 tsp cracked pepper
375 g whole wheat spaghetti
Crispy Garlic Crumbs (recipe below)

Heat the saucepan over medium heat. Add olive oil and heat until a piece of onion sizzles on contact. Saute onion with 1/2 tsp salt for 10 minutes, stirring often. Add garlic, bay leaves, chile flakes and saute another 5 minutes. Deglaze the pan with red wine and let it reduce until thick and syrupy. Add the fresh and canned tomatoes, basil, pepper and remaining salt. Simmer gently, partially covered, for up to one hour. Meanwhile, put a large pot of water on to boil to cook the pasta.

To serve, cook spaghetti until al dente. Drain and return the pasta to the pot. Toss with half of the arrabbiata sauce and transfer toa serving dish. Serve remaining sauce on the side along with grated Parmesan, chopped fresh basil and crispy garlic breadcrumbs to sprinkle on top.

Crispy Garlic Crumbs
1 cup fresh whole wheat breadcrumbs (about 2 pieces of bread)
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cracked pepper
2 tbsp olive oil

Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Spread onto a baking sheet and bake in a 325F oven until golden and crispy (about 10 minutes).

20 comments:

Amy said...

I was sold at crispy garlic crumbs but the rest of it looks sensational too! Bookmarked for dinner soon! Yum!

Threepwood said...

Vegetation just cracked me up :-) Nice recipe, also added to the queue for family dinner.

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

Red sauces are definitely my favourite and this looks like a winner to me :)

grace said...

i'm just the opposite--i love red sauces, and this is a phenomenal recipe. hooray for red pepper flakes!

Snooky doodle said...

oh I love this dish and it looks so good!

kickpleat said...

I really like red sauces and I think the garlic crumbs would be great! Yum.

Steph said...

I'm the opposite. I love red sauces and have a hard time trying to find a white sauce I like. They're usually too rich for me.

The pasta looks very yummy!

jd said...

Yes!

This is my idea of heaven in pasta form...

Anonymous said...

You know, I never really liked red sauces either. My fave is Alfredo sauce, but it can be so fattening.

test it comm said...

You can't go wrong with a spicy tomato based pasta sauce. I like the use of the whole wheat spaghetti.

Teanna said...

Oh those crispy garlic crumbs are making my mouth water!

CookiePie said...

OK, now I know what's for dinner tonight. Yum!!!

Sam@BingeNYC said...

Garlic crumbs? I'm in...this looks delicious.

Pam said...

I love Arrabbiata sauce - adding the garlic crumbs is making me drool. Bookmarked!

Dana said...

I'm a red sauce girl myself and this one looks perfect. I love those breadcrumbs!

Homemade Heaven said...

I shouldn't read food blogs when I haven't eaten - My stomach sounds like I swallowed a lion and he's shouting to get out!
Love the pasta and the garlic crumbs are sending me over the edge!

Colleen said...

This looks delicious - my husband would love this!

lisaiscooking said...

The sauce sounds great with the wine, and the garlic crumbs look crunchy and delicious!

mimi said...

yummm, crispy garlic crumbs!! love how easy this is, definitely trying it soon!

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

Another great recipe from Rebar. I have to try it.