Pasta

Bucatini all’amatriciana

Crisp guanciale, tomato, a touch of chilli and pecorino. A Roman classic that clings to every strand of bucatini.

  • 35 min10 prep · 25 cook
  • MediumDifficulty
  • 640 kcalper serving

Ingredients

4 servings
  • Bucatini400 g
  • Guanciale or bacon150 g
  • peeled tomatoes (400 g)1 can
  • Dry white wine50 ml
  • chilli flakes1 pinch
  • Pecorino Romano, grated60 g
  • Saltto taste

Missing something? Ingredients with × can be left out.

Steps

  1. 1

    Cut the guanciale into strips and fry it in a dry pan until the fat melts and it turns crisp.

  2. 2

    Pour in the wine and let it evaporate.

  3. 3

    Add the tomatoes, crushed by hand, and the chilli. Simmer until the sauce thickens.

  4. 4

    Cook the bucatini in salted water until al dente.

  5. 5

    Drain, toss in the sauce with most of the pecorino and a splash of cooking water.

  6. 6

    Serve with the rest of the pecorino on top.

Tips and questions
Can I use bacon instead of guanciale?
Yes, unsmoked pancetta is the closest swap; smoked bacon works but changes the flavour noticeably.
Does it have onion or garlic?
Not in the version from Amatrice: the flavour comes only from guanciale fat, tomato and pecorino.
Can I make the sauce ahead?
Yes, it keeps 3 days in the fridge; add the pecorino only when tossing it with the pasta.

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