Spicy Salami Spaghetti Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Weekend Cooking

by: Grant Melton

March14,2022

4.7

10 Ratings

  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Cook time 15 minutes
  • Serves 3 to 4

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Author Notes

Salami hive, this recipe is for you. Inspired by classic aglio e olio but with a porky twist, this weeknight dinner involves very few ingredients and almost no effort. In fact, you can whip up the sauce in about as much time as it takes to boil pasta. For that reason, I highly recommend prepping the ingredients while the water comes to a boil. Once the pasta goes into the pot, queue the 10-minute dinner countdown.

Genoa’s got that quintessential salami vibe while still being mild—a blank meat canvas, if you will. But, feel free to play around with different varieties. Swapping in soppressata results in a spicier dish. Subbing the salami for pepperoni is perfect for nights when you can’t decide between pizza or pasta. Why choose?

For some spiciness, I added some chopped Calabrian chile peppers. If you can’t find a jar in your store (or you don’t have any on hand), use crushed red pepper flakes instead. Just add them to the oil along with the garlic so the heat permeates the dish.

Want to throw in some greens? You totally can. Thinly sliced fennel, shredded radicchio, or wilted kale are all welcome. But for me, six cloves of garlic and a sprinkle of parsley is all the vegetable matter I need. —Grant Melton

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Watch This Recipe

Spicy SalamiSpaghetti

Ingredients
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • 12 ouncesspaghetti
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 8 ouncespre-sliced Genoa salami
  • 1/3 cupextra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cupfinely grated Parmesan, plus more for topping
  • 1 teaspoonchopped jarred Calabrian chiles
  • 1/4 cupfinely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste (optional)
Directions
  1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, generously salt. Add the pasta and cook to al dente, reserving ½ cup of cooking liquid before draining.
  2. Meanwhile, thinly slice the garlic. Slice the salami circles into ¼-inch strips and separate any stuck-together pieces. In a large sauté pan over medium-high, heat the olive oil. Add the garlic and salami and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes, until the garlic is soft and the salami is starting to crisp. If the garlic begins to brown, you can lower the heat.
  3. Drop the heat on the sauce to low, then add the cooked pasta, reserved cooking water, Parmesan, and Calabrian chiles. Toss and stir the pasta to coat evenly with the sauce.
  4. Divvy the pasta into serving bowls and top with parsley, freshly ground black pepper if you’d like, and more Parmesan.

Tags:

  • Pasta
  • American
  • Italian
  • Chile Pepper
  • Pork
  • Garlic
  • Weekend Cooking
  • Dinner

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • FrugalCat

  • J

  • JenniferFuller

  • Mee

9 Reviews

Mee October 26, 2023

Love this super fast and delicious recipe. I used thin spaghetti and 1/4 cup of olive oil instead of 1/3 cup to cut down on the grease but it was still a bit too oily for my taste. I put about a 1 cup of baby spinach leaves instead of the parsley. I can't wait to make this again and use even less oil.

FrugalCat June 26, 2022

Absolutely delicious. I used crushed red pepper (no jarred Calabrian chilies in my house) and rigatoni (I don't twirl). There was enough meatiness from the salami for my husband to accept this as a main rather than a side dish.

J April 27, 2022

I added some chopped sun-dried tomato packed in oil to the salami and garlic in the pan. Everyone loved this pasta dinner-

J April 27, 2022

Forgot to say I added the dried tomato because I didn't have the Calabrian chili on hand...

JenniferFuller April 17, 2022

Easy, breezy yummy goodness! I doubled the pepper and added red chili flakes. Thank you for this fast recipe that I’ll definitely make my busy family again!

Jessamin April 2, 2022

So simple and good. Great back-pocket recipe for busy weeknights. Ate A LOT of salami during the slicing process, A+ Friday night.

Judy March 18, 2022

I’m looking at the recipe and don’t find directions for sauce…no tomatoes?

rox L. March 18, 2022

Nope, pasta water and ingredients combined will sauce and melding of flavors

sdcrowder April 13, 2022

🤦‍♂️

Spicy Salami Spaghetti Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

How to spice up spaghetti dinner? ›

Fresh or dried herbs will also add flavor to pasta dishes.

"I use a lot of parsley, either fresh or even dried," Montillo said. "Oregano, garlic powder, onion flakes, black pepper all work well in a variety of sauces."

What to eat with salami? ›

For breakfast, I'll gently fry slices of salami with diced onion, then add beaten eggs for a hearty scrambled egg dish; for dinner, that same base of onion and sliced salami can be stir-fried with frozen peas and corn, and leftover white rice for a simple fried rice, or melted into my favorite jarred tomato sauce or ...

What is the secret to good spaghetti? ›

IF YOU COOK spaghetti in a big pot of water, drain it, then toss it with sauce, you are pouring a lot of flavor down the drain, says Vendemmia chef Brian Clevenger. “The trick to good pasta is cooking it in the sauce,” he says. It was while working at Delfina in San Francisco that he really started to understand why.

What makes spaghetti taste better? ›

13 Ways to Make Any Jarred Pasta Sauce Better
  1. Start with the right pasta and sauce. ...
  2. Season with dried herbs. ...
  3. Or flavor with fresh herb sprigs. ...
  4. Double up on tomato goodness. ...
  5. Add more garlic and/or onions. ...
  6. Sweeten and thicken with squash purée. ...
  7. Punch things up with a pinch of chili flakes. ...
  8. Try this secret ingredient.
Dec 9, 2022

Can you eat salami heated up? ›

But if your salami cravings are too much to ignore, know that the general guidance is that you shouldn't eat cold or “straight-out-of-the-package” deli meat. Instead, first zap it in the microwave or cook it in the oven (like you would with salami on a pizza), so that it's fully heated to the point that it's steaming.

How to eat salami for dinner? ›

Salami makes a great sandwich filler, pizza topping or addition to salads, particularly potato salads. Some salamis are good for cooking with – add them to risottos, pasta sauces and other meat and vegetable dishes.

Does store bought salami need to be cooked? ›

The intense flavour of salami arises from the long curing process, during which the sausage matures in its skin. This process also means that salami are safe and ready to eat, despite being uncooked. Traditional salami combines a mixture of minced beef, pork, wine, salt and various herbs and spices.

What sauce goes with salami? ›

Salami with yogurt mayonnaise

This sauce is a light alternative to regular mayonnaise and goes perfectly with all the elements of salami. To create, simply combine Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper.

Is salami good for your stomach? ›

When salami is fermented it produces beneficial bacteria that aids in digestion as well as providing probiotics that help the body absorb necessary nutrients, regulate blood sugar, and store fat.

What fruit pairs with salami? ›

According to this principle, cured meats such as mortadella, salami, and cooked ham go well with apples, peaches, exotic fruits, citrus fruits, pineapple, pears, and kiwi. While cured meats such as prosciutto, bresaola, and speck can be paired with figs, apples, apricots, watermelon, melon, strawberries, and berries.

What can I add to improve spaghetti? ›

Tossing in strips of basil, a sprig of thyme or some oregano can take your sauce to the next level. Although fresh herbs might pop a bit more, dried herbs and spices can work just as well. Sprinkling in some red pepper flakes, a pinch of parsley and a dash of salt and pepper can liven up your jarred pasta sauce.

What can I add to plain pasta for flavor? ›

Cheese is an excellent way to add flavor to your pasta without having to rely on sauce. Try mixing your angel hair pasta with goat cheese, and toss in sun-dried tomatoes to make an amazing meal with just a few ingredients. Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles.

What can I add to pasta for dinner? ›

Pasta dish ideas including Lemon, Basil and Mascarpone, Quick Chicken Alfredo, White Wine, Mushroom and Cream, White Bean Sauce, Bacon and Scallions, Tuna and Capers, Lemon Artichoke Pesto, Smoked Salmon And Capers, and Caprese.

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