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The Tiny Italian

Pasta, Gnocchi & Polenta / Recipes

How to cook Pasta alla Amatriciana –

When it comes to classical pasta recipes, the Romans have it totally covered. They own the ‘cacio e pepe, the ‘carbonara‘, ‘alla gricia‘ (it’s like a carbonara but without the egg). However, it wasn’t until my trip last year to this spectacular capital city, that I totally fell in love and became obsessed with ‘pasta all Amatriciana‘.

A rich tomato-based sauce, cooked with guanciale (pig cheek) and wine, served with generous amounts of grated salty pecorino cheese. I think I ate it at least 5 times during my 7-day stay. I mean, when I say I loved it, I loved it.

Below, I am sharing with you my version of this incredibly simple, easy but highly delicious pasta dish. Guanciale is hard to come by in the UK unless your local Italian deli stocks it. So, I suggest using pancetta instead, or even bacon lardons as an alternative. The same goes with the pecorino. It’s not always easy to get hold of. So in that case use grated parmesan instead.

If you would like to watch the full recipe video, head over to my youtube channel.

Rigatoni all' Amatriciana
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Pasta all amatriciana (2 hungry people)

  • 200g guanciale or pancetta

  • 75ml dry white wine

  • 1 x 400g tin peeled tomatoes

  • 50g pecorino romano, (or parmesan) grated

  • 250g rigatoni or spaghetti

PrintPrint

Directions

  • Fry and render the Guanciale or pancetta with no oil on low heat. When rendered it will release its own oil into the pan.
  • Next, pour in the white wine, turn the heat up to to medium and cook until the alcohol has evaporated.
  • Add in the whole tin of tomatoes. Chop them up and add 1/3 tin of water. Cook for 15 minutes.
  • In the meantime, cook your pasta has instructed in the packet.
  • When the pasta has cooked, drain and add straight into the tomato Guanciale sauce. Stir everything together until the pasta is well coated.
  • Add half the pecorino cheese and stir into the sauce until its melted in.
  • Serve immediately.

Tips:

  1. Try not to add any additional cooking oil as a) it will take away some of the natural flavour from the pork fat, b) it will make the dish extra oily which will make it unpleasant to eat.
  2. White wine adds a beautiful flavour profile, so add when possible.
  3. Always use tinned rather than fresh as it will create more of a saucy tomato base which is what this dish needs.
  4. Rigatoni or spaghetti go beautifully with this sauce.
  5. Reserve some pasta water if needed to loosen up the sauce. Sometimes the starch from the pasta can absorb the sauce, leaving it a little bit dry. So a little pasta water help out the sauce.
  6. Adding the cheese into the pasta will give the overall dish another great layer of flavour rather than sprinkling it on top.
TAGS:amatricianaamatriciana pastaamatriciana sauceguancialePancettaParmesanPastapasta saucepecorinoroman cookingroman dishesroman pastaroman recipesTomato
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The Tiny Italian

Ciao, I’m Paola I’m Paola (The Tiny Italian). I'm an Italian food expert cook and teacher. I teach people to not only cook but teach them how to LOVE TO COOK. I help change peoples mindset by showing them that cooking is not only for 'FOODIES' and sharing the fun, stress-free side with recipes, tips and cooking experiences.

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The Comments

  • Italian Sausage Ragu Recipes - The Tiny Italian %
    2nd April 2020

    […] you enjoyed this recipe then you will also enjoy, Rigatoni All’Amatriciana or Bolognese […]

    Reply
  • Cacio e Pepe - a classic Roman pasta - The Tiny Italian
    29th May 2019

    […] pasta, the Romans have some absolute belters. They claim the ‘carbonara‘ and the ‘amatrciana‘. Both popular Italian pasta dishes that can be found not only in restaurants in Italy but at […]

    Reply

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Ciao, I’m Paola
Ciao, I’m Paola

Ciao, I’m Paola

I’m Paola (The Tiny Italian). I'm an Italian food expert, cook and teacher. Cooking doesn't come easy to everyone. However, I help you LEARN to LOVE to cook and eat better with EASY SEXY HEALTHY Italian RECIPES. Plus TIPS and HACKS to build your kitchen CONFIDENCE. Come cook with me at one of my fun stress free cooking classes or courses. It’s all about helping others BELIEVE IN THEIR OWN SAUCE!

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ITS HERE! THE ONLY PASTA DISH YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO ENJOY THIS SUMMER.

A no-cook pasta, jam packed with flavour. 
A summer tomato tuna Riccioli using the best pasta @garofalopastauk and a wealth of quality store cupboard ingredients.
If you’re a lover of fusilli, move over as we have a new pasta shape Riccioli (curly) to get to grips with. It’s curves and crevices are perfect to collect all the wonderful ingredients in this dish.
Available from @ocadouk and @amazonuk. 

For the full recipe head to the link in my bio. 

#garofalo #summerpasta #pastasalad #easypasta #pastalover.
thetinyitalian
thetinyitalian
•
Follow
ITS HERE! THE ONLY PASTA DISH YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO ENJOY THIS SUMMER. A no-cook pasta, jam packed with flavour. A summer tomato tuna Riccioli using the best pasta @garofalopastauk and a wealth of quality store cupboard ingredients. If you’re a lover of fusilli, move over as we have a new pasta shape Riccioli (curly) to get to grips with. It’s curves and crevices are perfect to collect all the wonderful ingredients in this dish. Available from @ocadouk and @amazonuk. For the full recipe head to the link in my bio. #garofalo #summerpasta #pastasalad #easypasta #pastalover.
1 month ago
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BELIEVE IN YOUR OWN SAUCE is the only mantra you need right now if it feels like you may be struggling to feel your best. It’s not always easy to believe in your self but remember you can always get there will some love and self care.
Recently you may have read about how I had some struggles with my mental health. I’ve had so many life changes recently that my head couldn’t cope with it and was sending me down a weird spiral.

However with few changes, including making my self care number one priority, I’m  back on the mend and feel happier than I have in weeks. And when I think of this saying it reminds me of who I am and what I can be. And I want to tell you all. You can be as happy as you want to be, you can live a better life if that’s what you want and you can be as saucy as you like. 
Just don’t forget about yourself, needs or happiness. It can be the smallest thing but it can all make a difference.
Just always believe in your own sauce 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻
Paola x
thetinyitalian
thetinyitalian
•
Follow
BELIEVE IN YOUR OWN SAUCE is the only mantra you need right now if it feels like you may be struggling to feel your best. It’s not always easy to believe in your self but remember you can always get there will some love and self care. Recently you may have read about how I had some struggles with my mental health. I’ve had so many life changes recently that my head couldn’t cope with it and was sending me down a weird spiral. However with few changes, including making my self care number one priority, I’m back on the mend and feel happier than I have in weeks. And when I think of this saying it reminds me of who I am and what I can be. And I want to tell you all. You can be as happy as you want to be, you can live a better life if that’s what you want and you can be as saucy as you like. Just don’t forget about yourself, needs or happiness. It can be the smallest thing but it can all make a difference. Just always believe in your own sauce 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻 Paola x
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
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ITS HERE! THE ONLY PASTA DISH YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO ENJOY THIS SUMMER.

A no-cook pasta, jam packed with flavour. 
A summer tomato tuna Riccioli using the best pasta @garofalopastauk and a wealth of quality store cupboard ingredients.
If you’re a lover of fusilli, move over as we have a new pasta shape Riccioli (curly) to get to grips with. It’s curves and crevices are perfect to collect all the wonderful ingredients in this dish.
Available from @ocadouk and @amazonuk. 

For the full recipe head to the link in my bio. 

#garofalo #summerpasta #pastasalad #easypasta #pastalover.
thetinyitalian
thetinyitalian
•
Follow
ITS HERE! THE ONLY PASTA DISH YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO ENJOY THIS SUMMER. A no-cook pasta, jam packed with flavour. A summer tomato tuna Riccioli using the best pasta @garofalopastauk and a wealth of quality store cupboard ingredients. If you’re a lover of fusilli, move over as we have a new pasta shape Riccioli (curly) to get to grips with. It’s curves and crevices are perfect to collect all the wonderful ingredients in this dish. Available from @ocadouk and @amazonuk. For the full recipe head to the link in my bio. #garofalo #summerpasta #pastasalad #easypasta #pastalover.
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
1/5
BELIEVE IN YOUR OWN SAUCE is the only mantra you need right now if it feels like you may be struggling to feel your best. It’s not always easy to believe in your self but remember you can always get there will some love and self care.
Recently you may have read about how I had some struggles with my mental health. I’ve had so many life changes recently that my head couldn’t cope with it and was sending me down a weird spiral.

However with few changes, including making my self care number one priority, I’m  back on the mend and feel happier than I have in weeks. And when I think of this saying it reminds me of who I am and what I can be. And I want to tell you all. You can be as happy as you want to be, you can live a better life if that’s what you want and you can be as saucy as you like. 
Just don’t forget about yourself, needs or happiness. It can be the smallest thing but it can all make a difference.
Just always believe in your own sauce 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻
Paola x
thetinyitalian
thetinyitalian
•
Follow
BELIEVE IN YOUR OWN SAUCE is the only mantra you need right now if it feels like you may be struggling to feel your best. It’s not always easy to believe in your self but remember you can always get there will some love and self care. Recently you may have read about how I had some struggles with my mental health. I’ve had so many life changes recently that my head couldn’t cope with it and was sending me down a weird spiral. However with few changes, including making my self care number one priority, I’m back on the mend and feel happier than I have in weeks. And when I think of this saying it reminds me of who I am and what I can be. And I want to tell you all. You can be as happy as you want to be, you can live a better life if that’s what you want and you can be as saucy as you like. Just don’t forget about yourself, needs or happiness. It can be the smallest thing but it can all make a difference. Just always believe in your own sauce 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻 Paola x
1 month ago
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THE ONLY PASTA SALAD YOU WILL WANT TO EAT THIS SUMMER. 
Flavourful, super easy to recreate and full of goodness. What’s not to like, right?

Still a couple of days until the recipe video is revealed but in the meantime I thought I would share with you the shopping list along with where to get this amazing Riccioli @garofalopastauk pasta shape which you can order online @amazonuk or @ocadouk. 

🍽Serves 2/3 people 

🍝 250g @garofalopastauk pasta
🍅 400g cherry tomatoes on the vine.
🧄 1 garlic clove
🍃 Fresh basil
🐟 160g good-quality tinned tuna (in olive oil)
🫒 80g black kalamata olives
🌿2 tbsp capers
🍋 Lemon
🍶Extra-virgin olive oil
🧂Sea salt + black pepper

Perfect for dinner or wonderfully served up as a pasta salad for some alfresco dining. It involves no cooking however to make this dish extra special it’s all about using the best quality ingredients you can get your hands on. 
Remember it’s all about cooking food that makes you feel good. ❤️ We are all worth it. 

#pastasalad #summerpasta #eatbetterfeelbetter
thetinyitalian
thetinyitalian
•
Follow
THE ONLY PASTA SALAD YOU WILL WANT TO EAT THIS SUMMER. Flavourful, super easy to recreate and full of goodness. What’s not to like, right? Still a couple of days until the recipe video is revealed but in the meantime I thought I would share with you the shopping list along with where to get this amazing Riccioli @garofalopastauk pasta shape which you can order online @amazonuk or @ocadouk. 🍽Serves 2/3 people 🍝 250g @garofalopastauk pasta 🍅 400g cherry tomatoes on the vine. 🧄 1 garlic clove 🍃 Fresh basil 🐟 160g good-quality tinned tuna (in olive oil) 🫒 80g black kalamata olives 🌿2 tbsp capers 🍋 Lemon 🍶Extra-virgin olive oil 🧂Sea salt + black pepper Perfect for dinner or wonderfully served up as a pasta salad for some alfresco dining. It involves no cooking however to make this dish extra special it’s all about using the best quality ingredients you can get your hands on. Remember it’s all about cooking food that makes you feel good. ❤️ We are all worth it. #pastasalad #summerpasta #eatbetterfeelbetter
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
3/5
In my newsletter last week, I discussed how as humans it’s easier to convince ourselves to not do that ‘thing’ that will make us feel better.
For example, 
- to stay in bed rather than get up to do some exercise which will give you the energy to get your work done.
- order a takeaway rather than cook a dinner which will make you feel 💯 better.
- scroll on your phone for 15 mins rather then have  a lovely cup of tea in peace.
It happens so often in our lives we probably don’t notice it. But due to our busy lifestyles it sometimes feels easier to not do anything “EXTRA”. 

But let me ask you, why does everything else take precedent over “US” and our self-care.

Why is it that what we really need to make us feel good, isn’t as important. 
Why do we focus on how hard those actions will be rather than focus on how that EFFORT will make us feel so good after.

The truth is if we don’t take care of ourselves than we will never feel our best to take on everyday or live our best lives. It’s as simple as that and I recently learnt that the hard way.

 I wish this was something I was taught from an early age rather than thinking life was about working and making money. 

This is a topic I constantly discuss with my Saucy Society cooking members. The importance of enjoying your love of food at home by cooking dishes that will make you feel good and give you so much pleasure. That’s correct. Cooking can be self-care and not just that chore you want to avoid. 

If you’re someone who could benefit from making better food decisions, get help with cooking motivation and would love to transform your cooking relationship to develop a delicious healthy self-care habit. 
The Saucy Society is what you’re looking for. 
The best self-care online cooking community on the planet. 

More info? Link in bio. 

#eatbetterfeelbetter #selfcareroutine #goodfoodgoodmood
thetinyitalian
thetinyitalian
•
Follow
In my newsletter last week, I discussed how as humans it’s easier to convince ourselves to not do that ‘thing’ that will make us feel better. For example, - to stay in bed rather than get up to do some exercise which will give you the energy to get your work done. - order a takeaway rather than cook a dinner which will make you feel 💯 better. - scroll on your phone for 15 mins rather then have a lovely cup of tea in peace. It happens so often in our lives we probably don’t notice it. But due to our busy lifestyles it sometimes feels easier to not do anything “EXTRA”. But let me ask you, why does everything else take precedent over “US” and our self-care. Why is it that what we really need to make us feel good, isn’t as important. Why do we focus on how hard those actions will be rather than focus on how that EFFORT will make us feel so good after. The truth is if we don’t take care of ourselves than we will never feel our best to take on everyday or live our best lives. It’s as simple as that and I recently learnt that the hard way. I wish this was something I was taught from an early age rather than thinking life was about working and making money. This is a topic I constantly discuss with my Saucy Society cooking members. The importance of enjoying your love of food at home by cooking dishes that will make you feel good and give you so much pleasure. That’s correct. Cooking can be self-care and not just that chore you want to avoid. If you’re someone who could benefit from making better food decisions, get help with cooking motivation and would love to transform your cooking relationship to develop a delicious healthy self-care habit. The Saucy Society is what you’re looking for. The best self-care online cooking community on the planet. More info? Link in bio. #eatbetterfeelbetter #selfcareroutine #goodfoodgoodmood
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
4/5
Tonight, C4, 8pm. New show. One question with @claudiawinkle 
If you’re in tonight make sure you watch it xxx 
Such a fun thing to do before my bestie @marie_davies1 moved to NYC. Find out what happens tonight x
thetinyitalian
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Tonight, C4, 8pm. New show. One question with @claudiawinkle If you’re in tonight make sure you watch it xxx Such a fun thing to do before my bestie @marie_davies1 moved to NYC. Find out what happens tonight x
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
5/5
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