Easy Tomato Penne
Made with everyday ingredients like tomatoes, garlic, pasta, and parmesan, this dish is both budget-friendly and a guaranteed hit with everyone.
SERVES
4
PEOPLE
PREP TIME
10
MINUTES
COOKING TIME
15
MINUTES
Ingredients
200g pasta of choice
1 tbsp olive oil
20g butter
250g tomatoes, cut into cubes (I like cherry tomatoes, but any will do)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp tomato purée
1 tbsp dried oregano
Pinch of chilli flakes or powder (if you want a little heat)
1 bay leaf, optional
30ml white wine
200ml pasta water (leftover water from cooking your pasta)
100g parmesan, grated, plus extra for serving
Handful of freshly chopped basil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Method
Cook the pasta as per packet instructions.
Reserve a little pasta water for the sauce, about 200ml.
If the pasta is cooked ahead of the sauce, strain it and rinse with cold water to stop it from cooking and add a splash of olive oil until needed, to prevent it sticking.
Add the olive oil and butter to a non-stick pan, and on a medium heat, add the tomatoes and garlic; simmer for 3-4 minutes until they begin to soften.
Add the tomato purée, dried oregano, chilli flakes, bay leaf, and the wine, and continue to simmer until the wine reduces by half.
Add the pasta water and simmer until the sauce is bubbling and reduced; it should not be too watery or too thick either. You can press the tomatoes down with the back of a spoon to make a sauce consistency.
Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and mix until all the pasta is coated.
Add the parmesan and season well with salt and pepper.
Finally, sprinkle with the chopped basil.
Remove from heat.
Sprinkle with more Parmesan before serving.
