Bucatini Amatriciana

There are many variations of this recipe as it's one of the staple pasta recipes. In my version I'm also adding one small anchovy to create more complex taste. Originally this dish was known as pasta alla gricia, or griscia, as it came from the village of Grisciano where shepherds made their meal using pasta, guanciale, and pecorino. It was in the nearby town of Amatrice that tomato sauce was added in the late 1600s and the dish was officially named amatriciana.

Sauté
 ½ tbsp Butter
 ½ tbsp Olive Oil
 ½ Onion(thinly diced)
 1 Small Anchovy(optional, for more complex taste)
 ¼ tsp Chilli Flakes(optional)
...add
 60 g Bacon(ideally guanciale or pancetta)
...simmer
 ½ Italian Tomatoes(canned)
Sauce
 170 g cooked bucatini(or any other pasta)
 ¼ cup Pecorino Cheese(or suplement with parmigiano)
Garnish
 Freshly Grated Cheese (pecorino or suplement with parmigiano)

1

  • Heat non-stick pan to medium heat.
  • Add olive oil and butter, add onion and sweat for a minute.
  • Optionally, add anchovies and chilly flakes (highly recommended).
  • Add bacon and cook for 1 more minute.
  • Add tomatoes, and cook for 25 minutes on lower heat.

2

This long cooking process will bring natural sweetness from tomatoes.

3

  • Add cooked pasta and cheese.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Add some of the pasta water and mix well to create sauce.
  • Serve with grated cheese on top, optionally drizzle with olive oil.