(; ), also known as spaghetti bruciati (; ), is a
Barese spaghetti dish. Its preparation is markedly different from other spaghetti dishes; instead of being boiled in
salt
Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in the form of a natural crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in vast quantitie ...
ed
water
Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a ...
and finished in
sauce
In cooking, a sauce is a liquid, cream, or semi-solid food, served on or used in preparing other foods. Most sauces are not normally consumed by themselves; they add flavor, moisture, and visual appeal to a dish. ''Sauce'' is a French word t ...
, the pasta is cooked directly on the pan (traditionally
cast iron
Cast iron is a class of iron–carbon alloys with a carbon content more than 2%. Its usefulness derives from its relatively low melting temperature. The alloy constituents affect its color when fractured: white cast iron has carbide impuriti ...
). A broth typically made of
tomato sauce
Tomato sauce (also known as ''salsa roja'' in Spanish or ''salsa di pomodoro'' in Italian) can refer to many different sauces made primarily from tomatoes, usually to be served as part of a dish, rather than as a condiment. Tomato sauces are c ...
diluted with water is gradually added to the pan as the pasta absorbs it, similar to a
risotto. As the spaghetti absorbs the sauce, it cooks directly on the pan surface, developing significant
browning and a distinctive, crispy texture unique among pasta dishes.
History
According to Felice Giovine, a historian of
Apulian cuisine
Apulian cuisine consists of the cooking traditions and practices of the region of Apulia in Italy. Starting from the Middle Ages the permanent residence of the nobility in the region gradually declined, which caused the disappearance of their nob ...
, spaghetti all'assassina originates from Al Sorso Preferito, a restaurant in the city centre of Bari.
History Outside of Italy
Spaghetti all'assassina was virtually unknown outside of Italy, until the American YouTube channel Pasta Grammar released the first English-language recipe online on November 15, 2020.
Preparation
Spaghetti all'assassina is similar in preparation to ''pasta risottata'' , pasta prepared in the style of risotto, that is, cooked directly in broth. The broth used for spaghetti all'assassina typically consists of a 1:1 to 2:1 ratio of water and tomato sauce; less water is required if the tomato sauce is obtained by blending fresh
tomato
The tomato is the edible berry of the plant ''Solanum lycopersicum'', commonly known as the tomato plant. The species originated in western South America, Mexico, and Central America. The Mexican Nahuatl word gave rise to the Spanish word ...
es in a
food processor. Unlike other pasta risottata dishes, the spaghetti is allowed to directly touch the surface of the pan before additional doses of the broth are added. This causes the spaghetti to fry and char, contributing to its crispy texture. Bronze-cut pasta is generally not recommended for spaghetti all'assassina, as it releases too much starch during cooking, interfering with its browning. Spaghetti all'assassina is often spicy:
crushed red pepper,
chili powder
Chili powder (also spelled chile, chilli, or, alternatively, powdered chili) is the dried, pulverized fruit of one or more varieties of chili pepper, sometimes with the addition of other spices (in which case it is also sometimes known as chili p ...
, or fresh
chilies are added to it during cooking or used as a
garnish.
See also
*
List of Italian dishes
This is a list of Italian dishes and foods. Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BC. Italian cuisine has its origins in Etruscan, ancient Greek, and ancien ...
*
List of pasta dishes
*
References
External links
Spaghetti all'assassina
{{Cuisine of Italy
Spaghetti dishes
Cuisine of Apulia