Italian · Sauce · All year
Arrabbiata
4.6 community
5m
Prep
20m
Cook
Easy
Level
120
kcal
"Angry" sauce: marinara's hot-headed sibling, with chili bloomed in the oil until the whole sauce carries the burn. Adjust the anger to taste.
What you need
Ingredients
Servings
4
800 g
🥫 Canned Tomatoes
4 cloves
🧄 Garlic
sliced
2 tsp
🌶️ Red Pepper Flakes
or 2 fresh chilies, sliced
4 tbsp
🫒 Olive Oil
1 handful
🌿 Parsley
chopped
Add all to shopping list
Mise en place
Before you start
5m
Prep
20m
Cook
25m
Total
Serves
Yield: About 600 ml
Equipment
Small saucepan
Whisk
Prep checklist
Garlicsliced
Red Pepper Flakesor 2 fresh chilies, sliced
Parsleychopped
3 steps
Method
1
Bloom the chili and garlic in oil over medium-low until the garlic is pale gold and the oil is faintly red, 2–3 minutes — this infusion IS the anger.
💡
Chili heat is fat-soluble: blooming in oil spreads it through every bite instead of leaving hot spots.
2
Add tomatoes and salt; simmer briskly 15 minutes until thickened and glossy-edged.
3
Finish with parsley. Taste for salt and courage.
Learn the technique ›
From the chef
Notes
Taste before serving and adjust salt and acid — the last 30 seconds of seasoning matter more than any single ingredient.
Afterwards
Keep, reheat & pair
Storage
Airtight jar in the fridge, 3–5 days. Press plastic wrap onto the surface of starch-thickened sauces to stop a skin forming.
Freezing
Most sauces freeze 2–3 months; freeze in ice-cube trays for single portions. Emulsified butter/egg sauces don't freeze — they break on thawing.
Reheating
Reheat gently over low heat, whisking; butter- and egg-based sauces split when boiled. Loosen with a spoonful of warm water or stock.
Make ahead
Most sauces keep 3–5 days refrigerated and freeze in ice-cube trays for instant single portions. Emulsified butter sauces are best made within the hour.
Wine pairing
Follows the dish it dresses.
Beer pairing
Follows the dish it dresses.
On the plate
Serve it with
Sides
·
Penne all'arrabbiata
·
Eggs poached straight in it
·
Anywhere marinara felt too polite
Garnish
A final swirl of butter or oil
Fresh herbs
Taste map
Flavor profile
Sweet
Salty
Sour
Bitter
Umami
Heat
Per serving
Nutrition
120
kcal
2g
protein
13g
carbs
7g
fat
3g
fiber
520mg
sodium
Just for you
My notes
Keep exploring
Related recipes
Tomato & Basil Pasta
Italian · Dinner
30 min
Beginner
520 kcal
Garlic Butter Salmon
Modern · Dinner
17 min
Intermediate
480 kcal
30-Minute Spicy Chicken & Spinach Stir-fry
Asian · Dinner
27 min
Easy
540 kcal
Start cooking