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Spaghetti Assassina, The Authentic Italian Recipe

Assassina Spaghetti is a delicious first course that's incredibly easy to prepare and full of flavor. Thanks to its unique cooking method, this dish will win you over with its distinctive characteristics and unusual texture that sets it apart from traditional pasta preparations.
Recipe Spaghetti Assassina, The Authentic Italian Recipe
  • Difficulty Easy
  • Preparation 5 minutes
  • Cooking 11 minutes
  • Servings for Serves 4

Spaghetti all’Assassina is a traditional recipe from the culinary tradition of Puglia, and particularly from the city of Bari. It has gained fame throughout Italy and beyond, thanks to films and books that narrate the adventures of Commissioner Lolita Lobosco.

The Recipe for Spaghetti all’Assassina is remarkably easy to prepare, reminiscent of the old custom of reheating leftover spaghetti in a pan to achieve a “crispy” pasta with a much more concentrated sauce. This recipe originated in the 1960s by Enzo Francavilla, a restaurateur who, pressed by two customers requesting a hearty yet different dish, conceived of a dish with an unusual cooking method that provided the pasta with a very flavorful sauce.

According to tradition, it was these two unsuspecting customers who suggested the name, exclaiming “You’re an assassin” to the owner right after tasting the first forkful due to the intense spiciness of the dish, which has been toned down in later versions.

So if you’re a fan of spicy food, you can make Spaghetti all’Assassina in its Original Recipe using a whole chili pepper, or just half if you prefer less heat, or you can omit it entirely if you don’t enjoy spicy dishes.

Ingredients for Serves 4

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Method

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  1. To prepare Spaghetti all’Assassina (“Murderer’s Spaghetti”, a traditional dish from Bari), first bring 1.5 liters of water to a boil, dissolve the tomato paste in it, add coarse salt to taste and let it simmer over medium heat until you get a rich red broth.
  2. Finely chop the garlic clove and half fresh chili pepper, place them in an iron skillet with a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil. Blend the peeled tomatoes until smooth.
  3. When the garlic starts to sizzle, add the blended peeled tomatoes and cook over high heat for 5 minutes.
  4. Now arrange the raw spaghetti in the iron skillet, making sure to spread them evenly to cover the entire surface of the pan. Let them toast for a few minutes until charred, then flip them over to brown the other side as well.
  5. Once the spaghetti are well-browned and crispy, start adding the tomato broth gradually (as you would do with risotto), stirring continuously to combine.
  6. When the pasta is almost cooked, let any remaining liquid evaporate completely and continue to fry the pasta until it develops a nice crust on the bottom.
  7. The Spaghetti all’Assassina are now ready to be served, optionally topped with grated Parmigiano cheese or any other cheese of your choice. Finally, remember to download our App with exclusive content and fewer ads!

Tips

For perfect Spaghetti all’Assassina (Killer-style Spaghetti), we recommend using spaghetti #5. For optimal results, add the broth to the tomato sauce gradually. This traditional Bari dish requires the pasta to be slightly charred for authentic flavor.

Storage

Spaghetti all’Assassina can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. When reheating, add a splash of water and heat gently in a pan.

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