Categories: Kids, Dairy Free*leave out the cheese, Vegetarian+leave out the meat, Quick and Easy, Gluten free*use gluten free pasta This is an old recipe based on one enjoyed since Roman times without tomatoes ( alla Gricia from Griciano near Amatrice). The first record of this dish being made with tomatoes is from 1790. There is some dispute about the origin of this dish if it is actually from Amatrice, as the name implies, or was made in Rome by someone originally from Amatrice. Amatrice used to be part of Aquila so was part of Abruzzese cuisine. Amatrice has a spaghetti festival the first Sunday after Ferragusto (15th of August) every year starring the Amatriciana sauce. Variations of this dish include substituting garlic for onion, eliminating the butter or substituting it with olive oil or lard and substituting the chilli for black pepper.