The Simple Ingredient That Gives Arrabbiata Sauce Its Iconic Spice - Tasting Table

Of course, here in the U.S., there are plenty of slight variations on a traditional arrabbiata sauce recipe beyond adding red pepper flakes. San Marzano tomatoes are ideal since they're considered the cream of the tomato crop — the Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) ones are grown in a specific region in Italy and are known to be sweet with a potent flavor. But any can of whole peeled tomatoes can do the trick if you can't track these down, and some recipes add tomato paste to intensify the flavor even more.

You may also see added ingredients like sugar, Parmesan, shallots, butter, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, black pepper, basil, onion, and even red wine. In some cases, the sauce is also used as a base for a different pasta sauce with meat or veggies. However, more traditional recipes from Italy use Pecorino Romano because its sharpness pairs well with the spicy red pepper flakes — not Parmesan, which is thought to cancel out the heat. Onion is also omitted in simpler versions because it can make the sauce too heavy. One essential element that separates arrabbiata sauce from the rest, however, is the spicy kick, and for that, you'll need red pepper flakes.

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The Simple Ingredient That Gives Arrabbiata Sauce Its Iconic Spice - Tasting Table
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