This authentic Sicilian spaghetti recipe is so easy and it takes only 5 ingredients to make it! Spaghetti Siciliana is a fiery mix of hot pasta mixed with lots of garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, chillies and olive oil. Simple and gorgeous!
If spaghetti is your favourite type of pasta, take a look at my Spaghetti Puttanesca recipe, that takes only 15 minutes to throw together!
As some of you know, I just returned from Italy 2 days ago and this recipe, along with Sicilian sun-dried tomatoes in a small tupperware container, was one of the things I brought home with me.
I was so blessed to be surrounded by amazing Italian homecooks, who gave me tips and advice on cooking authentic dishes from various regions of Italy. The sun-dried tomatoes were an unexpected gift from our dear hostess.
You gotta love Italian generosity and hospitality! I just briefly mentioned during lunch that I liked the tomatoes and she immediately pulled them off the table, put a lid on and handed them to me while saying, “Can you take them on the plane?”
As I was leaving, another friend quickly told me how to prepare this amazing spaghetti recipe. And in two days I’ve been home I’ve cooked it twice!
I was absolutely thrilled. You can never have too many spaghetti recipes!
Spaghetti Recipes
Spaghetti is quite possibly the most popular pasta shape outside of Italy. It is most definitely the first one we learn to love as children.
My kids enjoyed their first taste of Spaghetti with simple Tomato Sauce for a long time until they graduated into appreciating more complex flavours like Spaghetti Bolognese, meaty ragu cooked with vegetables for hours!
Now as teens their absolute favourite pasta dish is Spaghetti Carbonara. So delicious, creamy and once again so simple. The hallmark of Italian cuisine!
This pasta is beautiful in its simplicity. So flavourful and satisfying! Here is what you will need.
What ingredients go into Sicilian spaghetti?
- spaghetti
- olive oil
- sun dried tomatoes
- dried chilli flakes
- garlic
You can also add parsley and Parmesan cheese.
How to get most flavour
Before I start, I would like to say that the flavour of your dish will almost solely rest on the quality of sun-dried tomatoes, so keep that in mind when you are buying them. Get the best quality you can afford, after all you only need a little jar!
In a large pot of boiling and salted water cook your spaghetti according to package direction. I usually subtract 2 minutes off the cooking time suggested, this way you get them al dente.
Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp. of olive oil in a frying pan and add minced garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and red chilli flakes, cook while stirring over low heat for 1 minute, then add half of your chopped parsley. Set aside.
Drain your cooked pasta and toss everything together in the same pan, add salt to taste and remaining half of chopped parsley.
Serve with grated Parmesan cheese on top. Seriously, it couldn’t get any easier or tastier than that! Buon Appetito!
What is your favourite spaghetti dish? Let me know in comments!
Post originally published in 11/2013, updated and republished in 02/2020
Spaghetti alla Siciliana
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1-2 tsp red chilli flakes
- 4 tsbp sun-dried tomatoes chopped
- 2 tbsp flat leaf parsley chopped
- 500g/1lbs spaghetti
- salt to taste
- 2 tbsp Grana Padano or Parmesan
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling and salted water cook your spaghetti according to package direction.
- Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp. of olive oil in a frying pan and add minced garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and red chilli flakes, cook while stirring over low heat for 1 minute, then add half of your chopped parsley. Set aside.
- Drain your cooked pasta and toss everything together in the same pan, add salt to taste and remaining half of chopped parsley. Serve with grated cheese on top.
Video
Nutrition
Patricia says
Easiest, most delicious pasta I’ve made. This will be my go to recipe.
Thank you so much for sharing this delicious recipe.
Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says
My pleasure, Patricia!
V says
It’s delicious hands down. I prefer half the pasta, dried sun dried tomatoes in a bag, extra olive oil. I cannot imagine coating a lb of pasta with such little oil. Yeah can’t believe I tweaked your recipe!! Extra cheese too!! I only use one clove garlic. Unfortunately didn’t have fresh parsley but dried was fine. And definitely sprinkle with a little salt. I crave it whenever I see the pic.
BOB says
Everyone knows that when you do pasta, you should add some pasta water to make the dish creamier. This is basic Italian.
Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says
Hi Bob, if you read the post, you would’ve seen that this recipe comes straight from a Sicilian cook. You clearly didn’t make it but you rated it. If you made it, you would’ve seen why you shouldn’t add water here. This pasta is not saucy, so adding water would be a big mistake as water and oil do NOT blend but hey, thanks for a patronising comment and mansplaining how Italian cooking works!
RK says
This sounds delicious, but pasta is a no no for me. Do you think spaghetti squash would work? I was thinking maybe bake squash halves in shell, then fill cavity with sauce mixture. Also, could you add baked chicken, chopped or diced? Looking for ways to remove carbs and add protein.
Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says
This recipe doesn’t really make a sauce but rather seasoning to spaghetti. You can definitely apply the same flavours to squash and add chicken to it but it will be a completely different dish.
Barbara says
Not a fan of sun dried tomatoes, any other substitute?
Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says
Not for this recipe as the sun dried tomatoes are basically the main flavour that makes it what it is.
Esperanza Cisneros says
Lemon + lemon zest
Rosetta says
I do this recipe all the time. My go to pastime. Sometimes a little ricotta on top
Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says
Ricotta on top sounds delish!!
phodie says
Tried this recipe but with a twist i added chopped honey glazed bacon first i fried the bacon until its quite crisp and set aside and and ussing the oil from the bacon i added the olive oil and proceeded with your instruction and when all is combined I put back the fried bacon gave it a toss or two and added the cooked pasta it turned out great thanks for this recipe
Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says
Sounds delicious!! 🙂
Val says
Freezing leftovers….?
vikalinka says
Hi Val you can certainly do it but I don’t like freezing pasta because I find it gets too soft when defrosted. I like mine al dente. If it doesn’t bother you, then yes!
Lori says
My family was stationed in Sicily for 5 years and I miss the food. I have had this dish made with chopped anchovies. They give the dish a nice subtle saltiness.
vikalinka says
I love anchovies and use them in so many pasta dishes! I can see how this spaghetti recipe would be enhanced by them. Thank you for sharing, Lori.
Ninaa says
So delicious and quick
I have a five year old and a two year old that ate this with a side of salmon
Loved the pic
vikalinka says
I am so happy to hear this dish is young kid approved! Your comment totally made my day, Ninaa.
Leanne G. says
Hello! I made this for dinner last night for hubby and me! We loved it! Sooo delicious! I prefer this over spaghetti sauce in the store any day!! So fresh and tasty and we love the spicy kick the red pepper flakes offer! Thanks for sharing! This is now on our favorite list!!
Kristina says
Wow. This looks good, I’m surprised there is no eggplant as I grew up with past Sicilians having them in there..but I was a child it could have been another dish 🤷♀️
vikalinka says
The dish with eggplant you are referring to is called pasta alla Norma, Kristina but this is just another quick way of serving spaghetti.
Nigel says
Made this again tonight. Have to say it has become our fave spaghetti dish.
Thanks for Sharing
Oh yeah the better the sun dried tomatoes the better the dish.
Pure class
vikalinka says
That’s awesome, Nigel! So pleased you love it.
Caroline says
Made this tonight for myself and my husband and we both loved it . Such a tasty meal with so few ingredients and it was so quick and easy think i will teach hubby as I’m sure he could manage it!!!
vikalinka says
It’s such a quick dinner to make, isn’t it! No need for a takeaway when something like this is tastier, cheaper and better for you!
Cathleen says
Do you add some pasta water to make more of a sauce or more olive oil?
vikalinka says
I usually add some pasta water to the sauce but this particular recipe is not very saucy and doesn’t need extra water, Cathleen.
Kimberly G. says
Absolutely delish……will be one of my favorites….HUSBAND LOVED IT
vikalinka says
So great to hear, Kimberly!
Kristine says
Dumb question…you wrote 500grams of pasta…is that like half a box? whole box?
vikalinka says
500 g is approximately 1 lbs and it’s usually a box where I come from. 🙂
Ashly says
I made this tonight for my 2.5 year old and husband, we all loved it. My father in law came to the states from Sicily when he was a child, can’t wait to make it for him when he visits from New York. Delicious recipe!
Ashley says
I’m so excited to try this out tonight! Will angel hair pasta work or should I just stick with spaghetti noodles?
vikalinka says
I think it will still work. You might want to dial down garlic a bit as angel hair pasta is more delicate. 🙂
Ashley says
I played it safe and stuck with spaghetti..turned out great! Thank you so much 🙂
vikalinka says
Great to hear, Ashley! 🙂
lisa says
More than 5 ingredients
vikalinka says
Technically yes, but parsley is optional and oil is not really an ingredient. 5 ingredients are spaghetti, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, chillies and Parmesan cheese. Everything else is add-ons.
Paige says
I saw this on your pintrest and had to visit your site! Love the beautiful pictures. This is quick, easy, and delicious. Thanks you!
Marisol Meyer says
Made this dish tonight. So delish! Thank you for being so generous and sharing the recipe! <3
Vikalinka says
So happy you enjoyed it, Marisol. 🙂 Thank you for your comment!
tinywhitecottage says
Love this recipe too! You are really impressing me with your posts lately. What a nice gift. Did you get them on the plane? 🙂
Vikalinka says
Thank you for your comment, you are too kind! Yes, I did get them on the plane. 🙂 I got stopped by a security guy when my bag was being scanned and my heart sunk but he mistook my eyelash curler for a pair of scissors! My sun-dried tomatoes were safe.
tinywhitecottage says
Great story! 🙂