Bucatini all’ Amatriciana!

Bucatini all’Amatriciana is a classic Italian pasta dish that hails from the town of Amatrice in the Lazio region of Italy. This delicious and flavorful dish is simple to prepare and loved by many for its combination of pasta, tomatoes, guanciale (cured pork cheek), Pecorino cheese, and a touch of red pepper flakes for some heat. Here’s a basic recipe for making Bucatini all’Amatriciana:

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces (340g) bucatini pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 ounces (115g) guanciale or pancetta, diced
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 can (14 ounces or 400g) whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to your desired level of spiciness)
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup (50g) Pecorino Romano cheese, grated
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the bucatini pasta until al dente, following the package instructions. Remember to reserve some pasta cooking water before draining.
2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced guanciale or pancetta and sauté until it becomes crispy and golden brown, about 5-7 minutes. Remove some of the rendered fat if there’s an excessive amount, but leave enough to cook the onions.
3. Add the chopped red onion to the skillet and cook until it becomes translucent, around 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook for an additional minute.
4. Pour the crushed tomatoes into the skillet and season with salt and black pepper. Simmer the sauce for about 10-15 minutes, or until it thickens.
5. Add the cooked bucatini pasta to the skillet and toss it in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, you can add some of the reserved pasta cooking water to reach your desired consistency.
6. Remove the skillet from heat and stir in most of the grated Pecorino Romano cheese, reserving some for garnish. Mix until the cheese is melted and the pasta is well coated.
7. Serve the Bucatini all’Amatriciana hot, garnished with the remaining cheese and chopped fresh parsley.

Enjoy your homemade Bucatini all’Amatriciana! It’s a flavorful and comforting Italian pasta dish that’s sure to satisfy your taste buds.