Spaghetti Nests with Spicy Sauce

Spaghetti nests with spicy sauce are a fun way to present a classic pasta dish. Here is how to prepare them:

Ingredients

• 400 g of spaghetti
• 400 g of tomato purée
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 fresh red chili pepper (or dried chili flakes to taste)
• 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Grated cheese (pecorino or parmesan) to serve
• Fresh basil for garnish

Preparation

1. Put a large pot of salted water on to boil and cook the spaghetti al dente following the instructions on the package. They need to be slightly undercooked because they will finish cooking in the oven.
2. While the spaghetti is cooking, prepare the spicy sauce. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the crushed garlic and chopped chili until golden. Remove the garlic if you prefer a less intense flavor.
3. Add the tomato purée to the pan, a pinch of salt, and cook over medium heat for about 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens.
4. Drain the spaghetti and reserve some of the cooking water. Mix the spaghetti with the sauce in the pan, adding some of the cooking water if necessary to keep it well moistened.
5. Take individual oven-proof molds (or a muffin tin) and lightly grease with a bit of oil. Divide the spaghetti into the molds, twirling them with the help of a fork to form nests.
6. Drizzle a bit of oil over the spaghetti nests and sprinkle the grated cheese on top.
7. Bake in an already heated oven at 180 °C for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and browned.
8. Let cool for a few minutes before unmolding and serve garnished with fresh basil leaves.

Spaghetti nests with spicy sauce are an original and enjoyable presentation of the dish, perfect for a dinner with friends or a special occasion. If you want a truly Italian suggestion, try adding some cubed guanciale in the sauté phase: it will make the sauce even richer and tastier. Enjoy your meal!