All'Amatriciana Sauce

Contributed by Grace Parisi

This spicy, pancetta-studded sauce is great with shellfish and bucatini, the hollow, spaghetti-like pasta.

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 ounces pancetta—sliced 1/4-inch thick, then cut into 1/4-inch dice
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 garlic cloves, peeled
1 tablespoon tomato paste
One 35-ounce can whole peeled Italian tomatoes with their juices, crushed by hand
Pinch of sugar
2 basil sprigs
Salt and freshly ground pepper

In a large saucepan, heat the oil. Sauté the diced pancetta with the garlic and crushed red pepper over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the canned tomatoes with their juices. Stir in the sugar and basil, season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Simmer the sauce over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and is reduced to 3 cups, about 30 minutes. Season again with salt and pepper. Discard the basil sprigs and garlic.

Make Ahead The sauce can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.