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    Home » Recipes » Italian Recipes

    Italian Calamarata Pasta (with calamari & tomato sauce)

    Updated: Jul 3, 2019 · Published: May 1, 2018 by Andrea

    Jump to Recipe

    This classic Italian Calamarata Pasta is LOADED with seafood flavour and made with 7 simple ingredients! Ready in 20 minutes and SO tasty, if you love pasta and seafood this is sure to become a favorite.


    The authentic Italian Calamarata pasta is one of the most popular traditional summer dishes we have in Italy.

    The recipe takes its name from the two main ingredients: calamarata pasta & fresh calamari rings.

    What is Calamarata?

    Calamarata pasta is a traditional Neapolitan pasta shape, which inherited its name for its shape that resembles calamari (or squid) rings.

    This speciality pasta has the ability to absorb all kinds of condiments, making it the perfect companion for this simple but incredibly delicious seafood sauce.

    Being a proud Italian, I love cooking Italian recipes- There’s something magical in the way simple inexpensive ingredients turn into mouth-watering delicacies.

    And the classic Italian calamarata pasta is THE perfect example.calamarata pasta with calamari and tomato sauce

    Made with calamarata pasta and fresh calamari rings cooked in a delicious tomato sauce, the pasta is cooked al dente and finished off with fresh aromatic chopped parsley just before serving.

    Ingredients For Calamarata Pasta

    In typical Italian style, the recipe for the classic Calamarata pasta couldn’t be easier.fresh calamari, cherry tomatoes, calamarata pasta, parsley, tomato pasta and glass of wine

    Ready in just 20 minutes start to finish, it only requires 7 simple ingredients:

    • fresh calamari (or high-quality whole defrosted calamari)
    • calamarata pasta (but paccheri or mezze maniche would work well too)
    • white wine
    • garlic
    • cherry tomatoes
    • tomato concentrate
    • fresh parsley

    There are loads of variations around, including using mixed seafood, tomato sauce instead of fresh tomatoes & concentrate, or baking the pasta in the oven in foil parcels.

    I’m sticking to the original Italian calamarata pasta recipe, which is crazy easy and quick to make.

    I've deliberately kept mine basic, but a pinch of dry chilli flake or a few fresh basil leaves are some favourite add-ons that would make your pasta even tastier.

    How To Make The Classic Italian Calamarata

    Italian Calamarata pasta with calamari and tomato sauceOnce you’ve cleaned your calamari (you can ask the fishmonger to do it for you), cut them into rings and sauté them with garlic and a bit of oil.

    Add white wine & tomato paste, and once the alcohol is evaporated, fold in the tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes over a gentle heat.calamari cooked in a pan with tomato sauce

    Fold in the pasta al dente, add a little bit of cooking water and mix all the ingredients together.

    Season with loads of black pepper and a bit of parsley and serve straight away.

    Eat your Calamarata pasta straight away to enjoy it at its best.

    I wouldn't recommend storing leftovers in the fridge for a long time, as it would just lose most of its flavour and texture.plate with calamarata pasta cooked with calamari and tomato sauce

    Are you looking for a fresh speedy dinner that requires simple ingredients and it’s also packed with nutritional value?

    Then this classic Italian Calamarata pasta definitely fits the bill.

    This traditional Italian recipe is perfect for summer weather, but it’s just as great to make all-year-long!

    More Tasty Italian Pasta Recipes You Need To Try:

    Caprese Pasta Bake: This 30-min vegetarian pasta bake is simple yet satisfying, great for a weeknight supper.

    Pea Pesto Pasta with Prawns: A light dairy-free pasta recipe that's packed with spring flavour!

    Spinach & Ricotta Stuffed Pasta Shells: Creamy, crunchy, fresh and easy to make, this stuffed pasta will steal the show at your next dinner party!

    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

    Please let me know how you liked it! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #thepetitecook! Looking at your pictures always makes me smile *and super hungry*!
     

    Recipe

    calamarata pasta
    Print SaveSaved!
    4.75 from 8 votes

    Classic Italian Calamarata - Pasta with Calamari & Tomato Sauce

    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Classic Italian Calamarata is LOADED with seafood flavour and made with super simple ingredients! Ready in 20 minutes and SO tasty, if you love pasta and seafood this is sure to become a favorite.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: Italian
    Serving: 4
    Calories: 464kcal
    Author: Andrea Soranidis

    Ingredients

    • 2 whole calamari, about 500gr fresh or defrosted
    • 400 g calamarata pasta, or mezzi paccheri
    • 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1 garlic clove, finely minced
    • 60 ml white wine
    • 1 tablespoon double-concentrated tomato paste
    • 300 g cherry tomatoes, halved
    • 2 tablespoon fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped
    • sea salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    • Start by cleaning the calamari: rinse them under running water, remove the head (cut eyes and mouth off) and the tentacles and keep them aside, remove the pen of the internal cartilage and the insides. Then peel the skin off with your hands or a small knife.
    • Cut the calamari into rings, in a similar size to the calamarata pasta.
    • Cook the calamarata pasta in a large pot of lightly salted boiling water, al dente, about 2-3 min less than package instructions.
    • Whilst te pasta cooks, prepare the sauce: heat the olive oil in a large pan, over medium heat.
    • Add chopped calamari and garlic and sautee for 2 minutes.
    • Mix the tomato paste with the wine, pour over the sides of the pan and allow the alcohol to evaporate.
    • Fold in chopped tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and cook over low heat for about 5 minutes.
    • Drain the pasta al dente, keeping some cooking water aside.
    • Add a ladle of cooking water to the pan with the calamari sauce, then add the pasta and mix well
    • Season the calamarata pasta with fresh chopped parsley and extra freshly ground black pepper, and serve immediately.
    Did you try this recipe? Tag @thepetitecook or use the hashtag #thepetitecook - Looking at your pictures makes my day!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 464kcal | Carbohydrates: 79g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 48mg | Potassium: 453mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 596IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 2mg

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

     

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Leni says

      April 20, 2022 at 11:47 pm

      5 stars
      thank you...very good and versatile!

      Reply
    2. Marisol Flores says

      July 11, 2021 at 9:21 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is absolutely delicious, I've made it twice. First time I followed cook directions on the package and the pasta was a little hard, but the second time , I cook it for 3 more minutes and it was so yummy. Love it

      Reply
    3. Eric says

      May 14, 2019 at 4:42 pm

      Hi , Any other recipes for Calimari without frying ? Kind Regards Eric

      Reply
    4. Katherine says

      May 08, 2018 at 11:43 pm

      Where do normally buy fresh octopus? Is there a big difference between the frozen variety?

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 11, 2018 at 6:25 am

        Hi Katherine, I think you wanted to say calamari and not octopus?
        I usually buy fresh calamari at the fish market or at my local fishmonger. I've also bought high-quality whole frozen calamari, and the difference is almost none 🙂

        Reply
    5. cheddarben says

      May 08, 2018 at 10:09 am

      Simple ingredients make fore the best recipes!

      Reply
    6. Monica says

      May 07, 2018 at 7:06 pm

      Wow, I had never heard of this dish or even this type of pasta, but this looks so inviting and delicious, I will be keeping an eye out for the pasta for sure, and am hoping that our best grocery store would have the calamari! This would make a fantastic special occasion dish in my house!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 08, 2018 at 9:39 am

        It's a very particular pasta, and I especially love its texture. If you can't find it however, mezze maniche or paccheri past would work well too!

        Reply
    7. Katie Crenshaw | A Fork's Tale says

      May 07, 2018 at 12:55 pm

      The sauce in this recipe is so simple and fresh! It looks absolutely fantastic. I could eat the whole dish all by myself. Thank you for the lovely recipe.

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 08, 2018 at 9:39 am

        Simple fresh flavours are my favorite! Thank you for your nice words xx

        Reply
    8. Rachel says

      May 07, 2018 at 5:37 am

      This is one of my favorite pastas of all time and the sauce you put it make it look even more fantastic! Plus, servicing it with calamari totally make sense! Yum!

      Reply
    9. Sara Lehman says

      May 07, 2018 at 2:49 am

      This looks like a wonderful way to try something new at home! I am going to add this to my must make list!

      Reply
    10. Cleo @Journey to the Garden says

      May 07, 2018 at 1:07 am

      With summer just around the corner, I'm excited to find recipes like this. Definitely going to try to make this recipe this summer!

      Reply
    11. Heather says

      May 06, 2018 at 11:36 pm

      Love this! I am such a fan of squid and this is a lovely, light summer dish. Simple and perfect!

      Reply
    12. Jessica (Swanky Recipes) says

      May 06, 2018 at 11:26 pm

      The hubs is always asking me to cook more seafood but I just don't have enough recipes that I've enjoyed. I love all the flavors in this pasta as it's not your normal recipe. Can't wait to try!

      Reply
    13. alifeofhappenstance says

      May 06, 2018 at 3:03 pm

      Your photos are simply beautiful! What a great combination of flavors and that calamari...oh yeah! Yummy!

      Reply
    14. lauren says

      May 06, 2018 at 1:01 pm

      What a great summer pasta! We love calamari but usually get it fried appetizer style at a restaurant. Love the idea of incorporating it into a light pasta with sauce.

      Reply
    15. Ahead of Thyme says

      May 06, 2018 at 2:34 am

      This pasta looks amazing and so easy!! I am going to try making this with shrimp, can't wait!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 06, 2018 at 9:09 am

        Great idea! This pasta works well with all kind of seafood in my experience!

        Reply
    16. Cheri Finkbiner says

      May 05, 2018 at 8:02 pm

      will this work with shrimp? not a fan of squid.

      Reply
    17. mildlymeandering says

      May 05, 2018 at 12:53 pm

      This pasta sounds so incredible! I love the idea of using squid!

      Reply
    18. Kelli says

      May 04, 2018 at 11:04 am

      This looks amazing, a perfect summer recipe! I've never cooked squid at home but this recipe convinced me to try.

      Reply
    19. Natalie says

      May 02, 2018 at 4:19 am

      It is easy indeed!
      Simple ingredients and easy cooking, delicious meal!

      Reply
    4.75 from 8 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    Andrea Soranidis, founder of The Petite Cook.

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