Penne pomodoro is a delicious recipe made with tomatoes, garlic, onion, olive oil and basil. Pomodoro is the Italian word for Tomato so Penne Pomodoro is Pasta in a tomato sauce. This is a recipe that is enjoyed all over Italy and one that is simple to make.
Penne Pomodoro
Pomodoro sauce is traditionally made using tomatoes cooked in olive oil along with garlic, basil, salt, and onions.
Pomodoro sauce can vary in both ingredients and texture. I have read recipes that don’t include onions. Some have no Garlic. Some recipes use a Soffrito base.
Some recipes prefer a smooth sauce and others prefer a sauce with some texture.
I add a pinch of chilli flakes, a pinch of sugar, a little butter and a grating of Parmesan too.
Tomatoes
Ingredients needed for Penne Pomodoro
- Penne Pasta
- Plum Tomato Tin or Fresh Tomatoes when in season
- Onions
- Garlic
- Olive oil
- Basil leaves
- Salt & Pepper
Optional
- Red chili flakes
- Parmesan Cheese
- Sugar – This is only if the tomatoes are a bit sour
- Butter (Optional)
How to make Penne Pomodoro – Step by Step
To make the sauce, heat oil and add onion. Cook for 10 minutes over medium low, till golden brown and then add garlic cloves.
Cook 2 minutes and pureed tomatoes, red chilli flakes, and seasoning.
Cook for 45 minutes – 1 hour over low heat adding water if needed.
Remove from heat. Stir in Basil.
Boil Pasta in salted water and cook for 2 minutes less then the package suggests. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
Place the tomato sauce back on the heat over medium high. Stir in the pasta water and butter. Add pasta. Cook for 2 minutes then remove from heat. Add Parmesan and stir through.
How to Serve Pasta Pomodoro
Although not traditional, I like to serve it with a grating of Parmesan Cheese and a slice of Garlic Bread.
Other Pasta varieties you can use
There isn’t a wrong choice here but some Pasta shapes work better then others.
- Spaghetti: This is the more traditional shape used in this recipe and it therefore works very well!
- Farfalle, Fusilli, Rigatoni: These all work well and they hold more sauce because of their shape.
- Gnocchi: These soft dumplings work well with rich tomato sauces.
- Ravioli or Tortellini: Pasta filled with cheese, meat, or veggies work well with tomato sauces.
More Pasta Recipes:
Marks and Spencer Copycat Spinach, Pesto and Pine Nut Pasta
One Pot Lemon Chicken and Thyme Orzo
**if you make something from tiffin and tea, i would love to see your creations! don’t forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment below! we love to hear from you. safira x
Penne Pomodoro
Penne pomodoro is a delicious recipe made with tomatoes, garlic, onion, olive oil and basil. Pomodoro is the Italian word for Tomato so Penne Pomodoro is Pasta in a tomato sauce. This is a recipe that is enjoyed all over Italy and one that is simple to make.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 small Onion diced finely
- 4 Garlic Cloves sliced finely
- 2 x 400 g Plum Tomato Tins pureed
- Pinch Red Pepper Flakes Optional
- Salt and Pepper
- 10 Basil Leaves torn
- 450 g Penne Pasta
- 2 tbsp Butter Optional
- 3 tbsp Parmesan grated, Optional
Instructions
-
To make the sauce, heat oil and add onion. Cook for 10 minutes over medium low, till golden brown and then add garlic cloves.
-
Cook 2 minutes and pureed tomatoes, red chilli flakes, and seasoning.
-
Cook for 1 hour covered over low heat, adding water if needed at any point in between.
-
Remove from heat. Stir in Basil. Once it has cooled a little, taste it. If it tastes a littles our, add a pinch of sugar.
-
Boil Pasta in salted water and cook for 2 minutes less then the package suggests. Drain and reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
-
Place the tomato sauce back on the heat over medium high.Stir in the pasta water and butter. Add pasta. Cook for 2 minutes then remove from heat. Add Parmesan and stir through.
Recipe Notes
Tomatoes - If you can find them, use San Marzano tomatoes which are plum tomatoes grown in Southern Italy. I did see a post by Italian Chef, Aldo Zilli. He rated over 80 tomato tin varieties. When I have made this recipe, I have used East End or Sainsbury's Italian Plum tomato tins. I have also seen recipes that use fresh tomatoes that are cooked low and slow for 30 minutes.
How to Serve Pasta Comodoro - Although not traditional, I like to serve it with a grating of Parmesan Cheese and a slice of Garlic Bread.
Other Pasta varieties you can use
There isn't a wrong choice here but some Pasta shapes work better then others.
- Spaghetti: This is the more traditional shape used in this recipe and it therefore works very well!
- Farfalle, Fusilli, Rigatoni: These all work well and they hold more sauce because of their shape.
- Gnocchi: These soft dumplings work well with rich tomato sauces.
- Ravioli or Tortellini: Pasta filled with cheese, meat, or veggies work well with tomato sauces.
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