This 5-ingredient Italian pasta is loaded with flavor and ready in under 30 minutes.

Who can resist that hair toss?

A couple of years ago sheposted a videoof assassins spaghetti and Ive been obsessed ever since.

Bowlful of assassin’s spaghetti

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Over two years later, I think Ive perfected it.

Now Im here to share the recipe with you.

What Is Assassins Spaghetti (Spaghetti all’Assassina)?

Bowlful of assassin’s spaghetti at a table setting with more in a bowl, a glass of water, utensils, and light blue kitchen towel

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

The dishis reportedto date back to the 1960s and originated in Puglia.

Its a simple dish of tomato sauce, garlic, chile, olive oil, and spaghetti.

What sets it apart is the methodthe pasta is cooked in the sauce until charred on one side.

Bowlful of assassin’s spaghetti

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

The resulting dish is spicy and extremely flavorful despite the short list of ingredients.

Instead, it requires a more thoughtful approach.

Ive included some tips below and thorough instructions that will walk you through the process.

Tomato broth heating up in a saucepan for assassin’s spaghetti recipe

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Once youve successfully made assassins spaghetti, you could make it over and over again without a recipe.

Add about 1/3 of the tomato puree and the tomato paste to the water and whisk to combine.

Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt.

Garlic and chili flakes cooked in a large pot for assassin’s spaghetti recipe

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Reduce the heat to low to keep the broth hot.

Once hot, add the garlic and chili flakes and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Add the rest of the tomato puree and stir.

Tomato sauce added to the pot with the heated garlic for assassin’s spaghetti recipe

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Season with salt to taste.

Add the pasta, spreading it out as much as you could to submerge it in sauce.

If needed, add up to a cup of the broth to just barely submerge the noodles.

Uncooked spaghetti added to the pot and topped with a bit of sauce for assassin’s spaghetti recipe

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

The heat should remain on medium-high.

Simple Tip!

This can get a bit splattery.

Tomato broth added to pot, little by little, until slightly covered for assassin’s spaghetti recipe

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Use a splatter guard if you have one.

Spread it out as best you’re free to and reduce the heat to medium.

It should be simmering.

Spaghetti with charred bits after the pasta is flipped for assassin’s spaghetti recipe

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

I usually end up using all of the broth.

If you end up needing a bit more liquid, just use hot water.

Give it a taste.

Cook down tomato sauce with the pasta for assassin’s spaghetti recipe

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

You want it to be al dente with a bit of chew with a thick, well-coated sauce.

If needed, add salt and a pinch of sugar to balance the flavors.

The total cook time will likely be somewhere around 20 minutes (ignore the package instructions!

Assassin’s spaghetti in a large pot

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

), but use your senses to decide.

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Assassin’s spaghetti lifted from a bowl using a fork

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek