Spaghetti all'assassina facts for kids
| Course | Primo (Italian pasta course); main course |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Region or state | Apulia, Bari, North of Province of Taranto |
| Main ingredients | Spaghetti, garlic, olive oil, tomato sauce |
Spaghetti all'assassina is a special spaghetti dish from Bari, a city in Italy. Its name means "assassin's spaghetti," and it's also called spaghetti bruciati, which means "burnt spaghetti." This dish is cooked in a very different way compared to regular spaghetti.
Instead of boiling the pasta in water, it's cooked right in a pan, usually a cast iron one. A tasty broth, made from tomato sauce and water, is slowly added to the pan. The spaghetti soaks up this broth, much like how risotto is made. As the pasta cooks directly on the hot pan, it gets a unique crispy texture and a lovely browned color. This makes it stand out from other pasta dishes!
Contents
The Story Behind Assassin's Spaghetti
Where Did It Begin?
According to Felice Giovine, who studies the history of food in the Apulia region of Italy, Spaghetti all'assassina first appeared at a restaurant. This restaurant was called Al Sorso Preferito and was located in the city center of Bari. It's cool to think that a specific restaurant might be the birthplace of such a unique dish!
How to Make Spaghetti all'assassina
Cooking Pasta in a New Way
Making Spaghetti all'assassina is a bit like making "pasta risottata." This means the pasta is cooked directly in a broth, just like risotto. For this dish, the broth is usually a mix of water and tomato sauce. You might use one part tomato sauce to one or two parts water. If you use fresh tomatoes blended into a sauce, you might need less water.
Getting That Crispy Texture
What makes this dish special is that the spaghetti is allowed to touch the hot pan directly. This helps the pasta fry and get a little charred. This charring is what gives Spaghetti all'assassina its famous crispy texture. It's a key part of its unique taste!
Tips for the Best Dish
- It's usually best not to use "bronze-cut" pasta for this recipe. This type of pasta can release too much starch while cooking, which might stop it from browning properly.
- Spaghetti all'assassina is often made spicy! People like to add crushed red pepper, chili powder, or fresh chilies while it cooks. Sometimes, they even use them as a garnish on top.
