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

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 Perfect Italian Itinerary

    May 18, 19 04:04 AM

    Planning a trip to Italy? Then you really need to read our Italian itinerary before you book a single thing.

    Read More

  2. Subscribe to A Secret Italy

    May 18, 19 04:01 AM

    Become a part of the Secret Italy Club. Membership is open for a short while longer and we'd like you to be a part of the family.

    Read More

  3. The Most Delightful of Piedmont and Langhe Hotels

    May 14, 19 06:02 AM

    I lived in Piedmont for close on a decade and I have discovered many of its secrets over the years. Let me share with you the Piedmont and the Langhe hotels I love most...

    Read More

  4. The Italian Real Estate Site

    May 11, 19 11:28 AM

    Finding that dream home in Italy can be a challenge. Having been down that road ourselves Maria and I have plenty of excellent tips on Italian real estate. You can't afford NOT to read our guide.

    Read More

  5. Piedmont - an Insider Guide to Discovering this Magical Italian Region

    May 08, 19 12:19 PM

    Is Piedmont the nearest place in Italy to paradise? It is! Simply click and discover why...

    Read More

  6. 10 Enchanting Days in Piedmont Italy

    Apr 17, 19 10:31 AM

    All it takes is 10 days and you'll have the most wonderful memories to last a lifetime. Ready to begin? Let's go...

    Read More