Perfect pasta pairings: Elevate your tomato sauce game
Pasta with tomato sauce is probably the simplest and best dish in the world. With just a few basic ingredients, you can create a delicious dinner that will perfectly cater to the tastes of the entire family. Moreover, the recipe can serve as a base for endless modifications, allowing you to surprise your loved ones with a new version of their favourite pasta every time.
During tomato season, it's worthwhile preparing the sauce using fresh tomatoes. Choose a sweet variety with plenty of flesh, such as plum or beefsteak tomatoes. Before adding them to the pan, peel the skin. To make it easier, blanch them in boiling water or briefly place them in the microwave. Remove the seeds and chop the tomatoes into cubes.
A long list of additions to pasta with tomatoes
Numerous options are available if you want the pasta with tomatoes to become a base for more sophisticated dishes. Nearly every ingredient pairs well with this simple Italian sauce. If you enjoy spicy dishes, add fried bacon and chilli peppers—this way, you'll get pasta all arrabbiata.
Olives and capers are also popular additions. If you combine them with anchovies, you'll create puttanesca. However, you don't need to limit yourself to Italian classics. Fried sausage, such as chorizo or chicken pieces, complements the tomatoes well. You could try a version with grilled vegetables, like courgette or aubergine, or with the addition of tofu.
Recipe for pasta with tomatoes
You can use any pasta for the fresh tomato sauce—spaghetti, penne, tagliatelle, or farfalle. I encourage experimenting with whole-grain or buckwheat pasta.
Ingredients:
- 1 onion,
- 2 garlic cloves,
- 2 large or four small peeled tomatoes,
- spaghetti pasta,
- 2 teaspoons of olive oil,
- a pinch of salt and pepper,
- fresh basil or dried Provençal herbs.
Directions:
- Heat the olive oil in a pan and sauté the finely chopped onion until translucent.
- Add thinly sliced garlic and diced tomatoes (peeled) shortly after.
- Cover with a lid and cook on low heat until the sauce thickens.
- Pour the contents of the pan into a blender and blend until smooth.
- Transfer the sauce to the pan, add salt, pepper, and the chosen herbs.
- Serve with pasta cooked according to the instructions on the package.
You can additionally sprinkle the pasta with grated Parmesan or mix it with small mozzarella balls.
