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Milk Street Bowtie Rigatoni alla Zozzona

Rigatoni alla Zozzona

4 to 6 Servings

40 minutes

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Rigatoni alla zozzona is a classic Roman pasta dish—a mashup of cheesy, porky, egg-rich carbonara and spicy, tomatoey Amatriciana. At Mamma Angelina, a trattoria in Rome, chef Andrea Dell’Omo taught us his version. The sauce requires only a handful of simple ingredients, almost no knifework and comes together speedily. It begins with spicy Italian sausage and cured pork cooked in olive oil; Dell’Omo used guanciale (pork jowl), but pancetta is equally good and easier to source. Canned crushed tomatoes simmer into a savory-sweet sauce. Eggs beaten with pecorino and a little reserved pasta water are added at the end; gentle residual heat cooks everything just enough so it has a rich velvetiness.

4 to 6

Servings

Tip

Don’t boil the pasta until al dente. Drain it when it’s just shy of al dente, as it will finish cooking directly in the sauce. Also, be sure to reserve some of the cooking water before draining the pasta; you will need it to make the sauce. Finally, don’t add the ¼ cup reserved pasta water to the egg mixture before the water has had a chance to cool slightly. If it’s scalding hot, it will curdle the eggs.

40 minutes

1 pound rigatoni
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more to serve
4 ounces pancetta or guanciale, chopped
8 ounces hot Italian sausage, casings removed
1 14½-ounce can crushed tomatoes (1½ cups)
1 large egg, plus 2 large egg yolks
1 ounce finely grated pecorino Romano cheese (½ cup), plus more to serve
Ingredients
  • 1

    pound rigatoni

  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper

  • 3

    tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more to serve

  • 4

    ounces pancetta or guanciale, chopped

  • 8

    ounces hot Italian sausage, casings removed

  • 1

    14½-ounce can crushed tomatoes (1½ cups)

  • 1

    large egg, plus 2 large egg yolks

  • 1

    ounce finely grated pecorino Romano cheese (½ cup), plus more to serve

Directions

Rigatoni alla Zozzona

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Reviews
Bill O.
April 21, 2024
Great dish
I made some changes in proportions, because I try to stay lower carb. I halved the amount of pasta and doubled the sausage, going half hot and half mild. My wife thought some broccoli rabe might enhance it, so we'll add some next time. Really enjoyed it, though
Denny L.
March 22, 2024
Perfection!
I had been making the ATK version which is more work (calls for onion and passata) and not better. This is the perfect weeknight meal when you want dinner done with minimal fuss and maximum taste. Also, I'm in the south and this means local supermarket chains all carry cured pork jowl aka guanciale for less than $5/lb. That is what I call a win!
Dennis M.
February 25, 2024
Superb Dish
It was very easy to make and came together quickly with fantastic results. I will definitely be making it again.
Michael D.
October 5, 2023
Perfect!
I made this recipe exactly as written with a wonderful result. I even had it for breakfast the next day so call me weird but it was delicious.
Susie B.
September 28, 2023
The boys LOVED it!
Carbonara is their most requested dish. This was a little heartier and more fallish for a rainy day.