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Authentic Arrabiata Sauce Recipe + Video

The Classic Arrabiata Sauce or Sugo all’arrabiata in Italian, made with sweet San Marzano tomatoes, lots of garlic and red pepper flakes! Literal translation ” the angry sauce” because of the hotness from the red chili flakes.

Red Bowl Of Spicy Arrabiata Sauce with Basil

Jump to Recipe

How to make the best, authentic Arrabiata sauce at home, from scratch! 

Though it might seem as a super simple recipe at first, in order for your sauce to turn out just right you must exercise patience. Cook it on low flame and stir it gently every 10 minutes or so to make sure the sugars from the tomatoes don’t burn. Don’t rush it.

I have to say: the most important thing you can do when making Italian sauce, is to use imported San Marzano Tomatoes and fresh red pepper flakes with attitude!

The reason is simply because they are grown in the volcanic soils in the San Marzano region of Italy, so they will be extra sweet and flavorful, not acidic and watery. Once those cook down and thicken up, you will have an explosion of sweet flavors in every bite.

The dry red pepper flakes is what makes the sauce spicy, so it is extra important to use a fresh good quality variety. To make it less spicy just use less red pepper flakes, pretty self explanatory right ? 😉

To naturally thicken your sauce gently simmer it away until it reduces to your liking.

Arrabiata Sauce

What to serve with:

  • Shrimp (spaghetti frutti di mare)
  • Vegan Ricotta Lasagna
  • Ricotta gnocchi
  • Eggs in Purgatory
  • Penne Pasta with Sauteed Peppers and Onions 
  • Anchovies, Capers and Olives (Puttanesca Style)
  • Grilled Chicken
  • Use it as Pizza Sauce
  • In this Vegan Puttanesca
  • Ricotta Meatballs

Wanna make a marinara sauce instead ? No problemo!

Simply leave out the red pepper flakes from this recipe and there you have it. Simple as that. One sauce is spicy, the other one is not.

Arrabiata Sauce
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Arrabiata Sauce Recipe

The Classic Arrabiata Sauce or Sugo all'arrabiata, made with sweet San Marzano tomatoes, garlic and lots of red pepper flakes!
Course Main
Cuisine Italian
Keyword Arrabiata sauce, tomato sauce
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 159kcal
Author Florentina

Ingredients

  • 1 medium yellow onion minced
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tsp red pepper flakes + more to your taste buds
  • 2 X 28 oz can San Marzano Tomatoes whole
  • 1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 bay leaf
  • sea salt to taste
  • 15 leaves basil torn
  • 1 lb penne pasta or spaghetti

Instructions

  • In a large heavy bottom cast iron pan heat up the olive oil and saute the onion with a pinch of sea salt until translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and let it cook only for a few seconds until you can smell it and doesn’t get any color on it.
  • In a large bowl crush the tomatoes with your hands but leave a few smaller chunks in there. Transfer them to the pot with the onions and garlic and brig to a simmer. Add the bay leaf and partially cover with a lid. Allow the sauce to simmer away on low flame for about 1 hour until thick and concentrated in flavor. Make sure to stir often, every 10 minutes or so, making sure the sugars in the tomatoes do not burn.
  • Turn off the flame and season to your taste with the sea salt. Stir in the fresh basil leaves and finish it with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Serve with pasta or meats or some fresh crusty bread.
  • Meanwhile bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Season with sea salt, you want this to taste like sea water. Cook the penne pasta or spaghetti until al dente, according to the directions on the package. Toss to coat well in the arrabiata sauce and serve with a drizzle of olive oil and extra red pepper flakes.

Notes

  • To keep the sauce as a rustic Marinara, simply leave out the red pepper flakes.

Nutrition

Serving: 2g | Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 8.9g | Protein: 1.6g | Fat: 14.3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 21.1g | Sodium: 162.4mg | Fiber: 1.8g | Sugar: 2.5g

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Filed Under: Gluten Free, Pasta, Tomato, Vegan, Vegetarian

About Florentina

Hi, I'm Florentina, the voice behind the wholesome recipes you find in this journal. But I'm not alone, I'm really just channeling the Man in the Photo, one recipe at a time! Thank you for joining me in my quest for the art of simple, rustic living, trying to capture the raw beauty of organic food & life through the lens of my Iphone and camera.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Scott

    July 12, 2016 at 12:02 pm

    5 stars
    We made this sauce with your ricotta meatballs and they were insane! There is something to be said about San Marzano tomatoes, we just cooked the sauce down until thick and simmered the meatballs inside the sauce. Best meal I ever had.

    Reply
  2. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine

    July 13, 2016 at 3:21 am

    5 stars
    Bring on the sauce!!! Nothing like a good homemade sauce!

    Reply
  3. Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry

    July 13, 2016 at 8:21 am

    5 stars
    A good arrabiata sauce is a thing of beauty. You can always add chicken or meatballs as well.

    Reply
  4. Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy

    July 14, 2016 at 7:25 am

    5 stars
    Looks and sounds delicious. Nothing beats a great classic pasta sauce. Perfection!!

    Reply
  5. Melanie @ Nutritious Eats

    July 14, 2016 at 11:00 am

    Yes, everyone needs to know a good tomato sauce recipe. I love those San Marzano in the can.

    Reply
  6. Igor @ Cooking The Globe

    July 14, 2016 at 11:32 am

    5 stars
    Love this classic sauce. I often make it with my pasta!

    Reply
  7. Melanie

    July 15, 2016 at 5:40 pm

    5 stars
    Now I am craving marinara sauce! And I love it a little spicy like this!

    Reply
  8. Michelle De La Cerda

    August 30, 2016 at 2:34 pm

    Great tip about getting the correct type of tomatoes!

    Reply
  9. Sandi (@fearless_dining)

    August 30, 2016 at 3:15 pm

    This sauce looks heavenly!! I never thought to import tomatoes…but I need to try these.

    Reply
    • Florentina

      August 31, 2016 at 11:32 am

      You really need to give San Marzano tomatoes a go, I swear on my saffron, they are everything and make the best arrabiata ever! Report back to mama 😉

      Reply
      • Tegan

        December 22, 2016 at 6:48 pm

        Can they be fire roasted San marzano tomatoes?

        Reply
        • Florentina

          December 28, 2016 at 2:21 pm

          Sure, but it will change the taste, as fire roasted tomatoes have a smoky flavor 🙂

          Reply
  10. Meg @ With Salt and Wit

    August 30, 2016 at 6:16 pm

    I love that you can do so much with this!

    Reply
    • Florentina

      August 31, 2016 at 11:31 am

      Absolutely, as long as I have some of this arrabiata sauce around, i can come up with 10 different dinner ideas in no time. True story!

      Reply
  11. Maryanne | the little epicurean

    August 30, 2016 at 9:21 pm

    I have to stock up on San Marzano tomatoes and make this ASAP!

    Reply
    • Florentina

      August 31, 2016 at 11:30 am

      Yes, San Marzano tomatoes have a special spot in my pantry. I’d be so lost without them.

      Reply
  12. katerina @ diethood.com

    August 31, 2016 at 3:28 am

    This is one amaaaazing sauce!! I have to give it a try soon!!

    Reply
  13. Brandy | Nutmeg Nanny

    August 31, 2016 at 4:04 am

    I love Arrabbiata Sauce! It has the perfect amount of spice!

    Reply
  14. Jen @ The Weary Chef

    August 31, 2016 at 2:11 pm

    This looks so tasty and delicious! Might be my new go-to sauce!

    Reply
  15. Kavey

    September 4, 2016 at 1:43 am

    5 stars
    It’s good to get the classics right, this looks really good!

    Reply
  16. Natalie

    September 4, 2016 at 10:19 am

    Yummy! This sauce is so delicious! My favorite!

    Reply
  17. Aish

    September 4, 2016 at 10:47 am

    I gotta make this. We love italian food and I make something Italian at least once a week.

    Reply
  18. Marsha

    February 5, 2017 at 2:55 pm

    4 stars
    Just one question, one 28 oz can of the whole tomatoes two? The 2oz x 28 in the list by the tomatoes is confusing me, lol

    Reply
    • Florentina

      February 5, 2017 at 3:25 pm

      Hi Marsha, you will need 2 X 28 oz cans San Marzano tomatoes. So a total of 56 oz. Sorry there was a glitch in the recipe plugin that was messing up the ingredient list. Should be all fixed now 🙂

      Reply
  19. Leslie

    July 4, 2017 at 6:01 pm

    I made your sauce with the rustica pizza and wow! My family thinks I am the best cook. I love spoiling them (and me) with organic homemade deliciousness. I only use about 3/4 tsp of the hot pepper and it’s still delish. Most favorite!

    Reply
    • Florentina

      July 5, 2017 at 12:48 pm

      I am so over the moon to hear this! I believe in homemade sauce forever and ever Xo’s

      Reply
  20. Edd Morris

    July 9, 2017 at 4:54 pm

    Long ago, I had Italian friends whose family from & in Italy use grated carrots to mellow the acid of the tomatoes and add a bit of ‘natural’ sweetness, which my wife scoffs-at since out Italian neighbors in Brooklyn didn’t teach her that way. Does anyone else use carrots? Have you used carrots? Thanks for the sharing of quality food.

    Reply
    • Florentina

      July 10, 2017 at 11:43 am

      Hi Edd! Carrots are good to add sweetness If the tomatoes are acidic. However, If you use certified San Marzano tomatoes, the imported variety from Italy, then you won’t need any sugar nor carrots. These tomatoes are very sweet to begin with and as you simmer down the sauce the sugars will concentrate even more. You can always thin out the sauce with some reserve pasta waterIf you like, but you gotta cook it down first to get the best flavors. Hope that helps 🙂

      Reply
  21. Tammy

    February 6, 2020 at 12:12 pm

    5 stars
    This sauce is so tasty! I did cut back on the red pepper flakes.

    Reply
  22. Patti

    June 18, 2020 at 7:19 am

    5 stars
    I have been making your Puttanesca sauce for months. I don’t know why, but have not tried any other recipes. I made this last night. Amazing! Both sauces are the closest I have come to what I tasted in my many trips to Italy. The key to great Italian cooking is authentic ingredients and timing. I have signed up for your emails now. Two no fail recipes and am looking forward to many others.

    Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful recipes with us!

    Reply
  23. John Owens

    January 1, 2021 at 6:08 pm

    5 stars
    This is now my “go to” recipe when I want to make an authentic Italian Marinara Sauce and/or Arrabiata sauce. The authentic San Marzano tomatoes make all the difference. Such a beautiful and delicious sauce. Freezes well so I always have some ready for pizza.

    Reply
  24. Alyse benjamin

    September 6, 2021 at 1:47 pm

    How long can this sauce be stored in the fridge for? Or in the pantry? Frozen?

    Reply
    • Florentina

      September 7, 2021 at 12:40 pm

      Up to one week in the fridge, 4 to 6 months frozen and if you can it first then you can store in a dark cool pantry for up to 2 years.

      Reply
  25. Franziska

    March 14, 2022 at 1:46 pm

    5 stars
    Just gorgeous. Lipsmackingly good! I halved the recipe and wish I hadn’t because there’s nothing left over now. We even mopped up the last bit out of the pan with some crust bread. Thank you for the recipe!

    Reply

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Ciao Florentina Channeling the Man in the Photo, one recipe at a time, mostly Italian and Vegetarian lifestyle! Please join my quest for the art of simple, rustic living, trying to capture the raw beauty of food & life through the lens of my Iphone - Florentina L.

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