Tomato Based Sauce for Pasta

Tomato Pasta sauce

Honestly, there are times when nothing is better than a simple pasta dish with a tomato based sauce.  Why complicate thing when many of the greatest Italian recipes are also the simplest. As Leonardo da Vince said: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

This recipe is an old favourite of mine and will take you absolutely no effort at all to put together. It'll be ready and waiting in the time it takes to cook the pasta.

I suggest you make plenty too because if your family is anything like mine they'll want plate after plate of it.

Maria 

Enjoyed the recipe? Please click like below! 

Ingredients

  • One tin of chopped tomatoes from Italy
  • Tablespoon of tomato paste
  • 8 fresh baby tomatoes
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 chilli pepper ( you can leave this out or add in more - depends on your taste for fiery things)
  • Olive oil
  • Salt
  • Parma ham to taste - optional. You can leave it out or add olives instead or even add olives AND Parma ham!
  • 3 cups of rocket (known as arugula in the USA)
  • 1/3 of a cup basil; chopped fresh is best
  • freshly grated good quality Parmesan cheese or Grana Padano
  • Quantities serve 4-6

Cooking Instructions

  1. Put the pasta on to cook in a pot of water. Use your favourite pasta which should be cooked al dente (is there another way?),  I normally use penne or spaghetti but the choice is yours.
  2. Roast tomatoes until soft and sweet in olive oil, add in the garlic cloves and chilli pepper. 
  3. Pour in the tin of chopped tomatoes and the tomato paste and finally some salt and basil.
  4.  Drain the pasta and mix it up with the sauce adding in parma ham and rocket.
  5. Serve with shaved Parmigiana Reggiano (Parmesan) or Grana Padano and if you want to make it look fancy add some fresh basil leaves.

The result is one of those pasta sauces that is a real summer treat. It is also a favorite if you need a quick sauce for dinner after a long day at work. 


Print this recipe...

Print Friendly and PDF
  1. Home
    2. ›
  2. Italian Recipes
    3. ›
  3. Tomato Pasta Recipe

You might like these

Please Book with Us...

Like us? Why not support me and Maria.

All you need do is book via the search box below, or any of the hotel links elsewhere on the website. It can be for travel to Italy... or anywhere else on earth.

You'll get the best deal available and the income we receive helps us to:

  • Stay independent and to keep bringing you the best of Italy.
  • Never have to accept money from hotels directly - meaning that we can share only those we genuinely love.

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

Recent Articles

RSS

  1. The Italian Panettone Recipe - An Essential Part of Christmas in Italy

    Nov 04, 19 06:35 AM

    Maria's traditional Italian Panettone recipe. The most famous Italian Christmas cake of them all. Bake yourself a taste of Italy this Christmas.

    Read More

  2. Noale in Veneto, visiting a small town

    Oct 29, 19 03:47 AM

    Last fall two friends and I traveled in Italy. It was a girls’ trip. One that promised to be full of fun and some new adventures. We were not disappointed.

    Read More

  3. Tellaro - One of Italy's Best Kept Secrets

    Oct 24, 19 06:01 AM

    Everyone knows the Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast but there is somewhere just as lovely with hardly any tourists? It's Tellaro!

    Read More

  4. Handmade Exclusive Gentlemen Dress Shoes

    Oct 20, 19 12:29 PM

    Looking for the world's finest gentle man dress shoes and handmade boots? Look no further than our site. Each pair of shoes is handmade to order in Italy by the finest of Italian craftsmen.

    Read More

  5. The Best Books On Piedmont

    Oct 20, 19 12:25 PM

    These books on Piedmont Italy are essential reading for anyone interested in this lovely Italian Region.

    Read More

  6. Italian Recipe and Cooking Guide

    Oct 11, 19 11:07 AM

    Which is the best Italian recipe? Well actually we've around ten perfect Italian bucket list recipes for you. Get that taste of heaven while still here on earth...

    Read More