Pasta alla carrettiera

Pasta alla Carrettiera is a simple and quick dish from Italian cuisine, particularly widespread in Sicily and Lazio. The name “alla carrettiera” refers to the cart drivers who transported goods and needed quick and tasty meals to prepare during stops.

Ingredients

• 320 grams of pasta (spaghetti or linguine work best)
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• Chili pepper to taste
• 1 handful of chopped fresh parsley
• 2 or 3 ripe tomatoes (or fresh cherry tomatoes)
• Salt to taste
• Grated Pecorino Romano cheese (optional)

Preparation

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta al dente following the instructions on the package.
2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce. In a pan, heat a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and add the whole or sliced garlic cloves, depending on preference.
3. Add the minced or flaked chili pepper and let it flavor for a minute.
4. Add the tomatoes cut into cubes or the cherry tomatoes cut in half and cook for a few minutes until they become slightly soft.
5. Drain the al dente pasta and transfer it into the pan with the sauce, tossing it to blend the flavors well.
6. Add the chopped parsley and, if you wish, a sprinkle of grated Pecorino Romano cheese.
7. Serve immediately hot.

Curiosity

This recipe is known for its simplicity and quick execution, but this doesn’t make it any less appreciable; in fact, it enhances the taste of the few fresh ingredients used. In some cases, desalted anchovies can also be added for an extra touch of savoriness. The dish turns out to be very versatile and accommodating to tastes, requiring only simple adjustments to meet personal preferences.