---
comments: true
tags:
  - italian
  - pasta
  - cooks-illustrated
---
# :spaghetti: Spaghetti All'Assassina

![Spaghetti All'Assassina](../assets/images/spaghetti-all'assassina.jpg){ loading=lazy }

| :fork_and_knife_with_plate: Serves | :timer_clock: Total Time |
|:----------------------------------:|:-----------------------: |
| 4 | 1.25 hours |

## :salt: Ingredients

- :droplet: 6 cups water
- :tomato: 0.25 cup tomato paste
- :candy: 1 tsp sugar
- :olive: 0.33 cup olive oil
- :garlic: 2 cloves garlic
- :hot_pepper: 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes
- :tomato: 1 cup tomato passata
- :salt: 1.75 tsp salt
- :spaghetti: 12 oz spaghetti
- :olive: 2 Tbsp olive oil

## :cooking: Cookware

- 1 medium saucepan
- 1 12-inch nonstick skillet
- 1 long-handled rubber spatula
- 1 thin spatulas

## :pencil: Instructions

### Step 1

Whisk water, tomato paste, and sugar together in medium saucepan. Bring to simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce
heat to low to keep tomato broth warm.

### Step 2

Heat 1/3 cup olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring
frequently with long-handled rubber spatula, until garlic is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in tomato passata and
salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens and oil around edges of skillet begins to sizzle, about 4 minutes.

### Step 3

Add spaghetti in even layer and increase heat to medium-high. Add 1 cup tomato broth (A) and cook, pushing between pasta
strands frequently with edge of spatula to prevent clumping, until broth has been mostly absorbed by pasta and sauce
around edges of skillet begins to sizzle, 4 to 5 minutes. Add 1 cup broth (B) and cook, shaking skillet occasionally and
continuing to prod pasta strands with spatula, until broth has been mostly absorbed and sauce begins to sizzle, 5 to 7
minutes.

### Step 4

Using 2 thin spatulas, gently flip half of pasta so bottom is on top and spread into even layer. Repeat with remaining
half of pasta (C). Add 1 cup broth and cook, continuing to shake skillet and prod pasta, until broth has been mostly
absorbed and sauce begins to sizzle, 5 to 7 minutes. Add 1 cup broth (D) and repeat cooking until sauce begins to
sizzle, 5 to 7 minutes. Repeat dividing and flipping pasta (E).

### Step 5

Add 1 cup broth and repeat cooking until sauce begins to sizzle, 5 to 7 minutes. Pasta should be firm but cooked
through. If not, add remaining 1 cup broth, 1/2 cup at a time, and continue to cook, checking frequently, until pasta
is cooked through.

### Step 6

Increase heat to high and cook pasta, without moving it, until under side is deeply browned and crisp and some strands
are beginning to char, 3 to 5 minutes (F). Remove skillet from heat, drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and
serve immediately.

## :link: Source

- Cook's Illustrated