Spicy Linguine With Homemade Calabrian Chili Paste

If you’re addicted to all things spicy, this spicy linguine is bound to be your new favorite pasta. Learn how to whip up this daringly simple chili paste at home, which you can use to spice up literally any dish, then transform it into a bold and flavorful spicy linguine with a Calabrian chili pasta sauce that comes together in the time it takes for your water to boil.

"The Marriage" in Italian cooking refers to the combining of cooked pasta with both its sauce and the starchy pasta water. Cooking your pasta al dente and incorporating pasta water is truly the secret to making restaurant-quality pasta at home.

To have a successful (pasta) marriage, follow these simple steps:

1: Choose the right pan. When heating pasta sauce (homemade or store-bought) always do so in a skillet large enough to incorporate all the cooked pasta eventually being added.

2: Cook the pasta to al dente. Always cook for one minute short of the package instructions.

3: Reserve the pasta water. Just before draining your pasta, use a coffee mug or liquid measuring cup to scoop out approximately 1/2 cup of starchy pasta water per every lb. of pasta and set aside.

4: "Marry" the pasta with the sauce. Immediately after draining, add the pasta to the large skillet with the heated sauce. Pour in the reserved pasta water in 2 batches while tossing to combine. Depending on the recipe, you may need more or less of the starchy pasta water.

This recipe calls for spicy chili paste, which is not only incredibly easy to make but will drastically level up your homemade condiment game. To make a homemade chili paste, simply steep dried chilis in hot water, strain out most of the liquid, and blend.

A few things to note:

Want more pasta recipes? Try this rigatoni alla carbonara, this simple tortellini alla panna, our pink sauce pasta, or (if you want another recipe with heat!) this rigatoni arrabiatta.

Tag @femalefoodie so we can see what you’re cooking!

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