Last Updated on November 10, 2019 by Fiona Maclean
The Easiest Pasta Lunch – Pasta Arrabbiata:
I was sent some pasta from Cook Italian and wanted to see how good it was. In my view, the best way to test the quality of ingredients is to use them to make something very simple. But, the other joy of this recipe is that it forms the basis for so many other easy pasta lunches. You can use the base tomato sauce with seafood, leftover meat or with a whole range of fresh vegetables. If you don’t like ‘spicy’ then you can leave out the chilli altogether and substitute fresh basil. If you are veggie, obvious use a veggie cheese of your choice if you find it necessary. The sauce freezes very well – if you just want enough for a single portion of pasta I suggest freezing a batch in an ice-cube tray, a trick I use for my homemade pesto too.
- 1-2 shallots finely chopped
- 1 chilli de-seeded and finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tin tomatoes 400g
- 150 g pasta
- parmesan
- 1 clove of garlic finely chopped or mushed
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Soften the shallots in the olive oil for about 8 minutes
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Add the chilli and garlic and cook for a further minute
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add the tinned tomatoes and bring to a gentle simmer.
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cook, stirring occasionally for around 30 minutes till the sauce has reduced by about a third
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check and adjust the seasoning to taste
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cook the pasta according to the packet instructions
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drain the pasta and stir through the sauce thoroughly so all the pasta is nicely coated
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plate up and add freshly grated parmesan to taste
Do you have a pasta recipe you make again and again? This is one of my own personal favourites, along with pasta with nut-free pesto
Want to save this recipe for later? Here’s a handy pin so you can do just that.
Wow. Never thought to freeze the tomato base sauce. Good idea! I also love pasta.
Looks so lush 🙂 I’ll be giving this a go at the weekend
This looks really warming and filling, perfect for tonight!
Glad I read this recipe, it sounds really straightforward and tasty. We’ve rather avoided arrabbiata for years ever since my partner ordered it in a chain restaurant, can’t remember which one, we were there with friends, not our choice. It was too hot! Possibly made with chilli flakes, and surely not meant to be so crazy hot. We both love spicy food but nearly 20 years later, we still haven’t tried it again.
Funny! I think this sounds rather nice, so read it to my partner. She can still remember that awful arrabbiata she had, and isn’t convinced.
Easy to make but one of our family favourites especially when unannounced guests appear – always a treat
Lovely dish, can’t beat pasta!
Simple but looks delicious
Good format. Is it only for WordPress? The pasta looks great, just the thing for a quick supper, what did you think of the pasta then? I couldn’t see your review – or is it me?
I don’t know janice…I suspect not. try googling ‘getmecooking’
Re the review, they didn’t ask me to post a review of the pasta on my blog, I had to fill in a review questionnaire and send back to them. Having said that, I’m intending doing one once I’ve made something else;)
thanks, I know this is what Karen from Lavender and Lovage uses on her blog, so it’s a bit of a meme on my part… I think it’s tidy though…and it does let you ‘write your blog’ quite independently of the recipe part
I liked your previous format as it was clear and easy to read . . . but this is even clearer and easier to read! I think being able to print it as a recipe card is an excellent idea.
Oh yes, and a great recipe too. I love simple pasta dishes.
thanks rachel, me too (re: simple pasta dishes). And there are so many ‘variations on a theme’ it means you never get bored (or perhaps it’s just that I like pasta!)
This is just an easy and delicious recipe
I like the format, it looks cleaner and I like the easy print option. I also love this recipe
thanks:) I think it seems to work – though my first attempt I forgot to ‘save’ and had to re-type it all!!! the print option is useful too…and it forces you to write your recipe logically without drifting into reams of beautiful foodie language.