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Slow-Cooker Arrabbiata Sauce

By Lawman Johnson

Published on October 15, 2019

Time

8 to 10 hours on low or 5 to 7 hours on high

Yield

Makes about 10 cups; enough for 2 pounds pasta

Slow cooker size

4 to 7 quarts

Slow-Cooker Arrabbiata Sauce

Ingredients

2 onions, chopped fine6 anchovy fillets, rinsed and minced6 garlic cloves, minced2 tablespoons tomato paste 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes Salt and pepper 2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes 1 (28-ounce) can tomato puree ¼ cup pepperoncini, stemmed and minced2 teaspoons sugar, plus extra for seasoningchopped fresh basil

Instructions

  1. Microwave onions, anchovies, garlic, tomato paste, oil, pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon salt in bowl, stirring occasionally, until onions are softened, about 5 minutes; transfer to slow cooker. Stir in tomatoes, tomato puree, and pepperoncini. Cover and cook until sauce is deeply flavored, 8 to 10 hours on low or 5 to 7 hours on high.
  2. Stir sugar into sauce and season with salt, pepper, and extra sugar to taste. Before serving, stir in 2 tablespoons basil for every 5 cups sauce.
Slow-Cooker Arrabbiata Sauce
Photography by Steve Klise. Styling by Ashley Moore.

Slow-Cooker Arrabbiata Sauce

Save

Time

8 to 10 hours on low or 5 to 7 hours on high

Yield

Makes about 10 cups; enough for 2 pounds pasta

Slow cooker size

4 to 7 quarts

Ingredients

Ingredients

Ingredients

Why This Recipe Works

We wanted to come up with a recipe for arrabbiata sauce using the slow cooker, where the long simmering time would render it rich and flavorful. The biggest hurdle was choosing the right tomato products to create a sauce that was neither watery nor too thick. Our solution was a combination of three different tomato products (paste, crushed, and puree). The concentrated products (paste and puree) provided strong, complex flavor without unwanted water—no need for evaporation. We microwaved onions, anchovies, garlic, and red pepper flakes along with tomato paste to create a flavor-packed sauce base. We then stirred in pepperoncini and the other tomato products. A sprinkling of chopped fresh basil provided the finishing touch.

Instructions

  1. Microwave onions, anchovies, garlic, tomato paste, oil, pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon salt in bowl, stirring occasionally, until onions are softened, about 5 minutes; transfer to slow cooker. Stir in tomatoes, tomato puree, and pepperoncini. Cover and cook until sauce is deeply flavored, 8 to 10 hours on low or 5 to 7 hours on high.
  2. Stir sugar into sauce and season with salt, pepper, and extra sugar to taste. Before serving, stir in 2 tablespoons basil for every 5 cups sauce.
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