Tomato Basil Pasta
A home-style recipe for Tomato Basil Pasta. Serves 4, ready in about 25 minutes.
Ingredients
- 400 g pasta (penne or spaghetti)
- 3 tbsp oil
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 5 tomatoes, finely chopped or blended
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp sugar
- A handful of fresh basil leaves, torn
Missing something?
- No pasta? Use macaroni or boiled spaghetti.
- No tomato? Use 1 tbsp tomato paste per tomato, or 2 tbsp yogurt for tang.
- No basil? Use fresh coriander, or dried oregano.
Method
- Boil the pasta in plenty of salted water as the packet says, until just soft. Save ½ cup of the water and drain.
- Heat the oil and cook the garlic on low heat for 1 minute.
- Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper and sugar. Simmer for 10–12 minutes, mashing now and then, until thick.
- Stir in most of the basil, then toss in the pasta with a splash of the pasta water.
- Top with the rest of the basil and serve.
Tip: Add the basil at the end; long cooking takes away its fresh taste.