This spicy Calabrian chili pasta is a delicious weeknight meal with notes of sweet fennel, tangy tomato, garlic, onion, and spicy Calabrian chili. The sauce is honestly addicting!
I first developed this pasta recipe in 2020, and its STILL a huge hit in my household.
Why You’ll Love This Pasta
Inspiration: I wanted to create a tomato sauce with a spicy, tangy, sweet, and garlicky flavor combination. And I think I nailed it! Ultimately, this Calabrian chili pasta was loosely inspired by a few different dishes: (1) Alison Romans caramelized shallot pasta, (2) Biang Biang noodles, and (3) “Szechuan-style” Indian chili paneer.
Heres why you should try this recipe:
- Spicy and Tangy: Fruity, spicy Calabrian chilis, sweet fennel, aromatic garlic, and tangy tomato paste come together to form an incredibly flavorful, addicting sauce similar to a tomato chili jam. The paste clings to the pasta as the soft and sweet aromatics nestle in its nooks and crannies.
- Flexible: This dish is incredibly flexible, so make it your own! I offer guidance on how much chili to use, but I leave the final seasoning up to you according to your taste preferences. And if you feel like the dish needs something, go through the list of flavors and ask yourself, does it need more salt? Then add more parm. Sweetness? Try a bit of honey. Acidity? Add a splash of vinegar.
- Easy: Theres relatively little prep and a lot of inactive time, so the sauce cooks itself.
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Calabrian Chili Pasta
FAQ
What is a substitute for Calabrian chili paste?
What is Calabrian chili paste called?
What is another name for Calabrian chilis?
What is Calabrese pepper paste?
Where can I buy Calabrian chili paste?
You may be able to buy Calabrian chili paste in the grocery store, but it’s so much better when you make it at home, as you can control everything that goes into it. All you need is some olive oil and Calabrian peppers, and some optional garlic and salt to round it out.
Are Calabrian chilies spicy?
Calabrian chilies are is a versatile Italian pepper from Calabria, Italy, with a rich red color, fruity flavor and a nice level of heat for spicy food lovers. Their heat ranges from 25,000 to 40,000 Scoville Heat Units, making them quite spicy peppers, with the hottest Calabrian chili being 8 times hotter than an average jalapeno pepper.
How do you use Calabrian chili pepper paste?
Like most condiments, there are endless ways to put Calabrian chili pepper paste to use. Add it anywhere you’d like a little heat — on top of eggs, pasta, or pizza. You can even blend it into soups, stews, meatloafs, and casseroles to take them from bland to bold. Looking for recipe inspiration?
How hot are Calabrian chili peppers?
Their heat ranges from 25,000 to 40,000 Scoville Heat Units, making them quite spicy peppers, with the hottest Calabrian chili being 8 times hotter than an average jalapeno pepper. Learn more about Calabrian Chili Peppers. Let’s talk about how to make Calabrian Chili Paste, shall we?