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Spicy rigatoni with red pepper flakes and olive oil plate on the side.
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5 from 1 vote

Carbone Spicy Rigatoni Recipe

Carbone spicy rigatoni is a delicious spicy tomato-sauce based pasta based off of the famous dish from the restaurant Carbone in NYC. This is a very easy recipe to make that will come together in less than 30 minutes that is also healthy and low-calorie.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Low Calorie, Low Fat
Servings: 1
Calories: 364kcal
Author: Clara

Ingredients

  • 1 serving Rigatoni, or pasta of choice (52g uncooked)
  • 1-2 Chili or Chili Flakes (Optional: adjust based on spice tolerance)
  • 1 cloves Garlic
  • ¼ tablespoon Onion (Chopped)
  • 2 tablespoon Tomato paste
  • ¼ cup Half and Half
  • 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup Pasta Water (Use as needed)
  • Basil (For garnish)

Instructions

  • Prepare the aromatics – Start by mincing the garlic, onions, and chili if using. Mince until they are small pieces so that the aromatics get cooked evenly.
  • Cook the pasta – Bring a pot of water to a boil and add in about 1 tablespoon of salt. Then cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Don’t forget to take a quarter cup of pasta or so after the pasta has been cooking for a while. 
  • Sauté the aromatics and tomato paste   In a skillet, use ¼ tablespoon of butter and cooking spray if needed and sauté the aromatics. Also add in the tomato paste and sauté until it caramelizes, about 5-6 minutes. Be sure to continue to stir the aromatics so that they don’t burn.
  • Finish the sauce – Bring the heat to low to ensure the half and half doesn’t evaporate. Once the pan has cooled down, add in the half and half and mix the sauce thoroughly, adding pasta water as needed until the sauce is at the right consistency.
  • Mix in the pasta – Add the pasta into the sauce and mix thoroughly, adding pasta water in as needed. Mix in part of the cheese as well, saving some for the garnish.
  • Garnish and serve – Remove from heat, garnish with cheese, red pepper flakes, and basil and enjoy your delicious healthy Carbone spicy rigatoni.

Notes

Substitutions and Variations
With Chicken – Add in some chicken for a delicious, protein-packed meal. 
Buy the sauce from Carbone themselves – If you don't want to make the sauce yourself, you can try using Carbone's pre-made pasta sauce. I personally like the fresh sauce better, but this is a great shortcut.
Expert Tips
Don’t forget the pasta water – The tomato paste and half and half alone might be too thick  to make a proper sauce. Add in pasta water as needed to achieve the desired sauce consistency.
Lower heat before adding the dairy – High head will make the dairy curdle and evaporate.

Nutrition

Calories: 364kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 374mg | Potassium: 437mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 742IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 149mg | Iron: 1mg