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

Popular on Food52

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 do you do with salami? ›

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.

How to use Italian dry salami? ›

Here, seven alternative ways to use your deli salami:
  1. Antipasto Salad with Bocconcini and Green-Olive Tapenade.
  2. Potato, Salami, and Cheese Frittata.
  3. Spring Onion and Salami Sheet-Pan Pizza.
  4. Chunky White Bean Soup with Pan-Fried Salami.
  5. Classic Cheese Fondue.
  6. Salami and Egg Mishmash.
  7. Charcuterie Fried Rice.
Oct 29, 2022

What can I add to spaghetti for extra flavor? ›

Fresh basil is the natural choice with simple pasta sauces like marinara, but parsley, cilantro, and even mint can also give pasta dishes a burst of fragrant flavor when they're sprinkled on just before serving.

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.

Can you eat salami straight from the package? ›

Yes, salami is designed to be eaten straight from the package. It's perfectly safe to consume salami without any additional thermal treatment.

When not to eat salami? ›

You can determine if salami is spoiled from it's smell and appearance. Salami meat with a slimy surface, a pungent smell or off appearance, do not eat and discard the deli meat immediately.

Should I cook salami before eating? ›

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.

Should I pan fry salami? ›

It's a simple but remarkable exercise in culinary transformation: Drop a slice of salami into a very hot pan and watch how its edges curl up like a rose petal. As the sweet, cured pork fat renders out, the meat begins to crisp and caramelize.

Is it okay to eat salami every day? ›

However, we must always keep in mind that salami must be consumed sparingly. Especially if you have to follow a weight loss diet or if you are suffering from diseases such as cholesterol and water retention, as it is one of the most caloric, salty, and fatty cured meats ever.

What is the difference between salami and hard salami? ›

Hard salami's high protein content, with less moisture and sometimes fat, makes it drier and firmer than Genoa salami, it also makes it a little chewy. Genoa salami has a high-fat content making it softer and greasier than other dry sausages.

What do Italians use salami for? ›

Salame is primarily served as is, with bread and cheese, for a tasty finger food or a quick lunch. They can also be used in many rustic recipes, to flavor savory pies and casseroles, as a topping for pasta courses or in preparing delicious snacks to be served during happy hour.

What is the white stuff on Italian dry salami? ›

The salami's casing is covered in a powdery dusting of benign white mold, which is removed before eating. This is a “good” type of mold, which helps cure the salami and fend off evil, nasty bacteria.

Does dry salami need to be cooked? ›

Like salami and prosciutto, most cured sausages are safe to eat without cooking. Sausages meant to be eaten cooked include raw ground sausage, Bratwurst, bologna, hot dogs, Kielbasa, and liver sausage. Saucisson sec can be eaten raw because it is a dry-cured sausage.

How to elevate spaghetti at home? ›

15 Ingredients That Will Seriously Upgrade Your Spaghetti Sauce
  1. ‌Add parmesan rinds for rich flavor. ...
  2. Bulk it out with extra vegetables. ...
  3. Sauté some garlic and stir it in. ...
  4. Balsamic vinegar gives depth and tang. ...
  5. Anchovies will bump up the umami. ...
  6. For complexity, add gochujang. ...
  7. Stir in some olive oil.
Sep 9, 2023

How do you add flavor to plain spaghetti? ›

Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box. Meanwhile, in a large saute pan, heat the oil. Just before the smoking point, add the minced garlic, basil, fresh and dried oregano, parsley, black pepper, and red chile pepper flakes. Immediately turn off the heat.

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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