How to Cook Pasta Al Pomodoro

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 10 mins

Cooking time: 45 mins

Ingredients needed to make Pasta Al Pomodoro:

• 12 oz pasta of your choice
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 can (28 oz) peeled tomatoes, pureed
• 1 medium onion, minced
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
• Pinch of red pepper flakes, crushed
• 3 large fresh basil sprigs, leaves picked
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, cubed
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt

Cooking instructions for Pasta Al Pomodoro:

• Drizzle a lashing of olive oil in a large skillet and heat it over moderately low flame.
• Throw in the minced onions and stir fry for about 12 minutes, or until they soften.
• Stir in garlic and sauté further for about a couple of minutes, stirring often until fragrant.
• Sprinkle the crushed red pepper flakes into the mixture and cook further for another minute.
• Stir in the tomato puree as well as a dash of salt and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring at times, until the sauce turns thick and turns aromatic.
• Turn off the heat and fold in the basil leaves until well combined; set aside.
• Cook the pasta in boiling salted water in a 5 quart pot for a couple of minutes or until cooked al dente.
• Drain them out into a colander and set ½ cup cooking liquid.
• Throw away the basil leaves and reheat the sauce over high flame.
• Add a splash of reserved cooking water to thin out the sauce and cook until it starts boiling.
• Fold in the pasta until well coated with the sauce and cook further for another 2 minutes until heated through.
• Turn off the heat and whisk in the most of the cheese as well as butter until the former melts.
• Pile it up into serving bowls and sprinkle rest of the cheese on top.
• Serve right away.

 Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Last Updated on April 2, 2013 by