Pasta Pomodoro is a simple pasta dish made by cooking pasta and tossing it in a tomato sauce along with herbs and spices. This quick pasta dish comes together under 30 minutes so a perfect weekend dinner meal. Follow the step by step procedure and video to make Pasta Pomodoro Recipe.
I love any tomato based pasta dishes and this one has become my recent favorite. Though I am not fond of pasta spicy tomato based pasta is the one I can have at least once in a while. Now that my kids too love this pasta pomodoro I can make it often.
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What is Pasta Pomodoro?
Pasta Pomodoro sounds fancy but it includes just the basic staples in your pantry. Pomodoro means tomatoes in Italian so Pasta Pomodoro means pasta in a tomato based sauce.
Pasta Pomodoro is a classic Italian dish made using pasta, tomatoes, basil leaves and parmesan cheese as main ingredients. Spaghetti al Pomodoro is the original name for this dish as traditionally spaghetti is used for this pasta dish. However you can use any other pasta variety of your choice.
Pasta Pomodoro is a Italian classic made with just simple ingredients and can be made in just under 30 minutes. The classic version uses canned tomatoes which makes this dish come together more quickly. As canned tomatoes are not easy to source here in India especially in Coimbatore I tried to recreate the same taste using fresh tomatoes and yes it was a hit.
Pasta Pomodoro Video
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Pasta Pomodoro Ingredients
- Pasta - Spaghetti is the best choice for pasta pomodoro. However you can use other pasta varieties such as penne, fusilli etc.
- Tomatoes - I boiled fresh tomatoes until skin starts to peel, removed the skin and pureed the tomatoes. This puree along with sauteed chopped tomatoes replicate almost the same taste as canned tomatoes.
- Parmesan cheese - Parmesan cheese adds great flavor and creaminess to this dish.
- Herbs & Spices - Basil leaves, red pepper flakes are used.
- Oil & Butter - Oil and butter are used for cooking.
How to make Pasta Pomodoro Step by Step
Cooking Pasta
1.Boil 4 cups of water in a pot, add salt to it.
2.Add 200 grams of spaghetti.
3.Let it cook in medium flame.
4.When it is ¾th cooked reserve ½ cup pasta cooked water.
5.Pasta is almost done.
6.Pasta should be cooked al dente or fork tender.
7.Drain the pasta.Rinse it with water to avoid further cooking and set it aside.
8.Heat 2 tablespoon olive oil - add 1 tablespoon garlic saute until golden.
9.Add ¼ cup onion finely chopped along with required salt.
10.Saute until onions turn transparent.
11.Add 2 tablespoon chopped tomatoes. Saute until tomatoes shrink.
12.Add 1 and ½ cups par-boiled tomato puree.
13.Give a quick and boil for few minutes until raw smell leaves and it becomes thick. Add ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes and 1 tablespoon basil leaves.
14.Give a quick mix.
15.Now add reserved ½ cup pasta cooked water.
16.Give a quick mix and let the mixture boil for 2 minutes.
17.Add cooked spaghetti.
18.Add 1 tablespoon butter and 2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese.
19.Mix it well until the sauce coats well.
20.Switch off and serve with a garnish of basil leaves and Parmesan cheese.
Enjoy hot!
Expert Tips
- Cooking pasta - Always cook pasta al-dente means it should be cooked yet have a slight crunch while biting.
- Tomato puree - You can use canned tomatoes if you can source it. Alternatively slit the tomatoes at the bottom into X and boil in water for few minutes until the skin starts to peel off. Now remove the skin and puree the tomatoes and use it.
- Pasta cooked water - Do not skip this step of adding pasta cooked water as it makes the dish creamy and also helps to stay moist.
- Cheese - Parmesan cheese is the best bet for this dish so do not skip adding or checking for alternates.
- Seasoning - You can replace red pepper flakes with chili flakes too. If you do not have fresh basil leaves then add dried basil leaves.
Serving & Storage
Serve it as such hot or serve it along with toasted bread. I would recommend to consume it fresh. In case you want to store, make the sauce separately store in fridge then mix it with pasta while serving. This sauce keeps well in fridge for about 5 days.
FAQS
1.What is Pasta Pomodoro made of?
Pasta Pomodoro is made by cooking pasta in a tomato based sauce along with herbs and spices.
2. Can I use readymade tomato puree?
You can use store - bought canned tomatoes but not tomato puree. As store bought tomato puree is very intense and will not be perfect for this dish.
If you have any more questions about this Pasta Pomodoro Recipe do mail me at sharmispassions@gmail.com. In addition, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Youtube and Twitter .
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Pasta Pomodoro Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 200 grams spaghetti
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic
- ¼ cup onion
- 2 tablespoon tomatoes
- 1 and ½ cups par-boiled tomato puree
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon basil leaves
- ½ cup pasta cooked water
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon parmesan cheese
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Boil 4 cups of water in a pot, add salt to it.
- Add 200 grams of spaghetti.
- Let it cook in medium flame.
- When it is ¾th cooked reserve ½ cup pasta cooked water.
- Pasta is almost done.
- Pasta should be cooked al dente or fork tender.
- Drain the pasta.Rinse it with water to avoid further cooking and set it aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoon olive oil - add 1 tablespoon garlic saute until golden.
- Add ¼ cup onion finely chopped along with required salt.
- Saute until onions turn transparent.
- Add 2 tablespoon chopped tomatoes. Saute until tomatoes shrink.
- Add 1 and ½ cups par-boiled tomato puree.
- Give a quick and boil for few minutes until raw smell leaves and it becomes thick. Add ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes and 1 tablespoon basil leaves.
- Give a quick mix.
- Now add reserved ½ cup pasta cooked water.
- Give a quick mix and let the mixture boil for 2 minutes.
- Add cooked spaghetti.
- Add 1 tablespoon butter and 2 tablespoon parmesan cheese.
- Mix it well until the sauce coats well.
- Switch off and serve with a garnish of basil leaves and Parmesan cheese.
- Enjoy hot!
Video
Notes
- Cooking pasta - Always cook pasta al-dente means it should be cooked yet have a slight crunch while biting.
- Tomato puree - You can use canned tomatoes if you can source it. Alternatively slit the tomatoes at the bottom into X and boil in water for few minutes until the skin starts to peel off. Now remove the skin and puree the tomatoes and use it.
- Pasta cooked water - Do not skip this step of adding pasta cooked water as it makes the dish creamy and also helps to stay moist.
- Cheese - Parmesan cheese is the best bet for this dish so do not skip adding or checking for alternates.
- Seasoning - You can replace red pepper flakes with chili flakes too. If you do not have fresh basil leaves then add dried basil leaves.
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