Penne pasta in red tomato sauce

Wishing you all Very Happy and Healthy New Year! one of my resolution this year is to blog post frequently. when you have strong passion, you have to do it. My passion for clicking , recipe hunting is on as usual. hope i will improve.

Pasta is loved at home. i prepare tomato pasta quite often. when i spotted basil in a grocery store, i knew i will be preparing this tomato and basil pasta. once i prepared with Indian basil and loved it. now the Thai basil(can i call it that way?) is also tried.

cook the pasta as per packet instructions, what i do is, i measure paste in my 100 grams cup and add 1 litre water per 100grams. i usually microwave in very high power for 15 mins. while making on gas stove, i boil the water first and then add pasta and let it boil for 15 mins. once the pasta in done, drain it completely.

Ingredients:

Pasta - 200 grams
Red Tomato sauce - 4 tbsp
Black olives - 2 tsp
Basil leaves -few to garnish

Ingredients for Red Tomato and Basil Sauce / Marinara sauce:

Tomatoes - 4
Onion - 1 of medium size (finely chopped)
Garlic - 4 cloves (finely chopped)
Olive oil - 2 tbsp
Red chili flakes - 1 tsp
Tomato Ketchup - 1 tsp
Basil Leaves - 5 / dried basil leaves - 1 tsp
Oregano - 1 tsp
Kashmiri chilli powder/ paprika  - 1 tsp
Red Wine - a splash / 2 tsp's (optional)

Method:

Heat the pan, add olive oil, finely chopped garlic and saute it. then add onion and saute till it turns translucent. now add finely chopped tomatoes and saute till it is mixed with onions. this takes at least 3 to minutes. if i have to say in Indian way, saute till it resembles tomato thokku.

Add salt, kashmiri chilli powder, chili flakes, basil, oregano and ketchup to the pan one by one and give a good mix, till it all comes together like a sauce. add little water if it sticks to the pan. allow the sauce to sit in pan in medium flame for about 10 minutes. finally add red wine and remove from the flame.

Now mix the red sauce with pasta, add olives,basil leaves & mix. This red pasta goes well with Red wine.

If you love pepper taste, reduce the chilli powder and add freshly crushed black pepper. i served with chilli flakes as we prefer our pasta little spicy.

If you are serving for kids or to a cheese lover, grate some mozzarella cheese over the pasta, grill for 2 minutes and serve warm.