Spaghetti alla Carrettiera: a Sicilian raw sauce
You only have 10 minutes to prepare a tasty dinner, with a few and cheap ingredients? This is for you!
Hi guys,
hope Spring is treating you well!
I have decided to talk about this recipe as it’s one of my favourite for the warmer season as there is minimal cooking required, but the flavor is still preserved.
If you're a fan of spaghetti aglio, olio, e peperoncino, then you're sure to love its Sicilian counterpart: spaghetti alla Carrettiera. This simple yet delicious recipe is perfect for those who appreciate the flavors of garlic, chili pepper, and pecorino cheese.
Legend has it that this dish was prepared by Sicilian wagoners (drivers of “carretto siciliano”) who carried it with them to work for lunch. The recipe was passed down through generations and has now become a beloved dish in eastern Sicily and the Platani River Valley, in the southern part of the island. It looks like sometimes they were adding some more wild herbs that they foraged on the road.
The interesting thing about this recipe is that the sauce is raw so no need to cook the ingredients: this makes it super fast to make as you can prepare it while the pasta is cooking and it is also affordable as only few but tasty ingredients are involved.
Ingredients for 4 people
12 oz. spaghetti
6 oz. fresh Pecorino
fresh parsley
1 clove of garlic
1 fresh chili pepper
extra-virgin olive oil to taste
salt
pepper
Instructions
To make spaghetti alla carrettiera, start by boiling a large pot of salted water. While the water is heating up, finely chop the chili pepper, parsley, and garlic and add it to a bowl. Grate the pecorino cheese and set it aside.
Once the water is boiling, add the spaghetti and cook until al dente. Drain the spaghetti and toss it with the raw sauce made of extra-virgin olive oil, chopped garlic, parsley and chili pepper. Season with salt and pepper and add the grated pecorino cheese. Add a touch of pasta water and mix energetically, this will help create a creamy finish. Serve immediately and enjoy the delicious flavors of Sicily.
Hope you’ll give this a try and if you do do not forget to tag me on Instagram !
Thank you for reading and remember I am open to connect with fellow pasta lovers, so don’t be shy and drop me a comment here or get in touch by email if you want to chat about collaborations!
Ciao,
Rossella