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aerial shot of tomato sauce pasta in a cream ceramic bowl
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5 from 5 votes

Classic Tomato Sauce Pasta Recipe

Recipe Video. Tomato Sauce Pasta is a classic pasta recipe bursting with flavors of homemade tomato sauce. learn how to make red sauce pasta in a few simple steps.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 2 adults
Calories: 383kcal
Author: Hina Gujral

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Stir Fry Pan

Ingredients

  • 200 gram penne pasta
  • 2 Cup tomato sauce/marinara sauce (see recipe here)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon red chilli flakes
  • ½ Cup finely chopped zucchini
  • ½ Cup finely chopped red bell pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 4 - 5 fresh basil leaves
  • ¼ Cup sliced black olives
  • ¼ Cup cherry tomato, cut into halves
  • ¼ Cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  • Prepare the homemade tomato sauce (See how to prepare pizza/pasta sauce at home).
  • Next, boil the pasta in salted water till al-dente or cooked as per your liking. Drain water from the boiled pasta and transfer it to a colander. Reserve a cup of the pasta water to flavor the sauce later.
  • In a non-stick stir fry pan heat a tablespoon of olive oil. Stir fry zucchini and bell pepper till it for 3 - 5 minutes. Season with salt. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
  • Transfer the tomato sauce to a pan. Turn on the heat. Add the boiled pasta along with the stir-fry vegetables and stir to combine. Add oregano and red chili flakes.
  • Cook on a medium flame for 3 - 5 minutes for the pasta to absorb the flavors of the sauce while stirring the pasta occasionally in between. Adjust the consistency of the sauce by using reserved pasta water.
  • Before serving the pasta, add fresh basil leaves, olives, cherry tomato, extra virgin olive oil, and grated cheese.
  • Serve tomato sauce pasta warm with toasted garlic bread on the side.

Video

Notes

  • Tomato Sauce for the pasta can be prepared a day or two in advance and store it in the fridge. Watch my video of homemade tomato sauce
  • You can use penne, spaghetti, or any other shell-shaped pasta for the tomato sauce. 
  • After adding cheese you can bake the pasta as well for 5 - 10 minutes at 180 degrees C, for a crusty, cheesy texture. 
  • If black olives are not available use green olives. 

Nutrition

Calories: 383kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 1761mg | Potassium: 1075mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 2946IU | Vitamin C: 75mg | Calcium: 202mg | Iron: 5mg