Last Updated on May 7, 2021 by laurenpacek
Bucatini all Amatriciana sounds fancy (and can be a little tough to say), but is actually really simple to make. A handful of really good ingredients come together to make a fantastic pasta.
This pasta = a time machine
This Pasta all'Amatriciana takes me right back to our trip to Italy. I can vividly remember sitting across from Sean in a small restaurant in Rome, eating this pasta.
This is one of the things that I really love about food. Sure, at its most basic, food fuels us and can be quite delicious. But it can also function as a time machine, transporting you to treasured memories past.
After seeing photos pop up on my Facebook feed during the 1-year anniversary of our trip to Rome and Florence in mid-March (click the links to see pictures!), I got to thinking about how I hadn't really drawn on any culinary inspiration from our trip and applied it to my own cooking. This must change.
What goes into this pasta dish?
- Olive oil: Extra virgin, please
- Cured meat: You can use either guanciale or pancetta. Guanciale is more traditional, but I find that pancetta is more readily available in the grocery stores near me. Both are salty and a little funky.
- Spices: This recipe calls for red pepper flakes and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Onion and garlic: Nothing fancy here.
- Tomatoes: Canned crushed tomatoes make this dish come together really quickly.
- Pasta: Bucatini is like a big, fat, hollow spaghetti noodle. If you can't find bucatini, spaghetti will also do in a pinch.
- Cheese: Use finely ground Pecorino Romano.
How does this pasta come together?
It sounds fancy (and can be a little tough to say), but is actually really simple to make Bucatini all Amatriciana.
You'll start out by sautéeing some guanciale or pancetta (I used pancetta) in olive oil, add some spices and onion/garlic, then add crushed tomatoes and simmer for a bit. That's basically it. All that's left is to cook some pasta, toss it with the sauce, and top generously with cheese.
Easy peasy.
Looking for similar recipes?
This Bucatini Cacio e Pepe is another delicious and easy Roman pasta dish. AND don't forget about Risotto Cacio e Pepe!
I've also used bucatini pasta in my Creamy Corn and Bucatini with Burrata as well as my Creamy Bucatini with Crispy Mushrooms.
Where did you find this recipe?
This recipe comes from Bon Appétit.
Bucatini all Amatriciana
Bucatini all Amatriciana sounds fancy (and can be a little tough to say), but is actually really simple to make. A handful of really good ingredients come together to make a fantastic pasta.
Ingredients
- 2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
- 4 oz guanciale, pancetta, or unsmoked bacon, diced
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 small onion, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- kosher salt, to taste
- 12 oz dried bucatini or spaghetti
- ¼ cup Pecorino Romano cheese, finely grated
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add guanciale/pancetta/bacon and sauté until crisp and golden.
- Add the red pepper flakes and black pepper, stirring to combine. Add the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are soft.
- Add the crushed tomatoes and reduce the heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens (15-20 minutes).
- While the pasta sauce simmers, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season the water with salt. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until 2 minutes before al dente.
- Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta.
- Add the drained pasta to the sauce in the skillet and toss vigorously with tongs to coat.
- Add about ½ cup of the reserved pasta water and cook until the sauce coats the pasta and the pasta is al dente, about 2 minutes. You can add a little more pasta water if the sauce is too dry.
- Transfer the pasta to bowls and top with cheese.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 576Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 1782mgCarbohydrates: 54gFiber: 6gSugar: 11gProtein: 17g
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I made this last night and my kids absolutely loved it. Thanks so much!
That's awesome! I'm so glad to hear that they enjoyed it!
Italy is on my bucket list! This pasta sounds so simple, but so delicious! Perfect for those nights you need something quick, but still tasty. Plus, I have most of the ingredients in my pantry or fridge right now!
Thank you, Melissa! It is a very easy pasta dish to make, and there's a really big payoff for that little bit of effort that you have to put in.