Ingredients
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 8 ounces guanciale, cut in 1/4-inch strips
- 2 large onions, cut in 1/2-inch dice
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt
- 2 (28-ounce) cans San Marzano tomatoes, passed through the food mill
- 1 pound bucatini or perciatelli
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus extra for garnish
Directions
Coat a large saucepan with olive oil. Add the guanciale and saute over low heat. Cook until it is brown and crispy and has rendered a lot of fat. Remove and reserve 1/3 of the guanciale for garnish. Bring the pan to a medium heat and add the onions and crushed red pepper. Season generously with salt, to taste. Cook the onions until they are translucent, starting to turn golden and are very aromatic. Add the tomatoes and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer the sauce for about 1 hour, tasting periodically. Adjust the salt, as needed.
Bring a large pot of well salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook for 1 minute less than the instructions on the package. Remove 3 or 4 ladlefuls of the sauce from the pot to a bowl, as an insurance policy. You can always add it back in but it's harder to take out once the pasta is in the pan. You're looking for the perfect ratio between pasta and sauce. Drain the pasta from the water and add to the pot of sauce. Stir to coat with the sauce. This is how you always finish pasta; you cook it in the sauce to perform the marriage of the pasta and the sauce. Add more sauce, if necessary. Add in the cheese and drizzle with olive oil to really bring the marriage together. Toss to coat and serve in shallow bowls garnished with cheese and the reserved guanciale.
YUUUMMMEEEEE!
















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By danettel10
Aurora,CO
on December 30, 2012
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This was the best pasta dish I have ever made. Super yummy that you will wanta extra for the next day. This is a show stopper for any dinner party!! I could not find the guanciale suggested so used pancetta. YUM
By Seamuseen84
on October 23, 2012
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I am very critical and dislike a lot if recipes that are put out there by people. And I cook a lot. This is the best recipe for this dish that I have ever tried, with a perfect balance of pasta and sauce, tomatoes and onions, and heat from chile flakes. Everyone who makes pasta regularly should have this one in their repertoire.
By jgmeador_4367282
mechanicsville, VA
on October 09, 2012
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This recipe has become a staple in my house. It is so so easy- frankly when you see the recipe, you can't begin to imagine that something so simple would produce such an amazing sauce! I double the recipe so I can freeze it (and it freezes very well!. Take your time cooking the guanciale and the onions, as a slow cook will yield better flavor. YUM YUM! Oh, and if it's just as good with spaghetti or linguine.
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