Pasta sauce

[blue2]

Hi

Does anyone have any ideas for a very easy pasta sauce?

Thanks

[Shire]

For speed and cheapness I use a tin of chopped tomatoes, and add whatever else I fancy that is lying around in the kitchen, which may be any of the following - garlic, chilli powder, oregano, worcester sauce, bits of onion, mushroom, pepper, sweetcorn, ham, olives - whatever you like really, the combinations are almost endless!

[mccfluff]

buy jar of pesto?

[Mortartube]

Get some tomatoes, onion and garlic. Slice the tomatoes in half, roughly chop the onion and garlic. Drizzle with olive oil and roast for about 40 mins on a medium heat (about 180 degrees).

Blitz it all in a blender and add a little sugar if the tomatoes aren't quite sweet enough then give it another quick whizz in the blender. You can add fresh basil and/ or oregano leaves before blending if you wish. After blending sieve it and that's it.

Nice with chicken or meatballs

[wnjxc21]

Dolmio

[Backdrifter]

Fry onion, add tomato puree and canned tomatoes, sliced garlic, basil, oregano, any other herb you fancy, a little splash of water from the cooking pasta to stop it catching. Options: a few chilli flakes, a can of drained tuna in brine. Season as desired. Mixed with your pasta of choice, topped with freshly grated parmesan (or grana padano for cheapness) and a sprinkle of fresh parsley, it's deliciious, filling and quick.

One of the simplest sauces ever: olive oil, with some extra virgin, into a pan, heat, add finely sliced garlic and a few chilli flakes, fry for a minute or less, season, mix with your cooked pasta, add fresh grated cheese. You could even leave out either/both the garlic or chilli for extra simplicity.

[Clanad]

Seems like, if nothing else, we always have a can of white beans around. Here in the U.S., they are navy or a local type called Great Northern. Cook the pasta as usual (penne seems best for this recipe) and in a seperate heavy pan, fry about 1/2 cup chopped onion and 1/2 cup chopped celery in about 4 tabelspoons (maybe about 1/4 cup) of olive oil. Add 1 or 2 cloves of chopped garlic and salt and fresh pepper to taste. Add the beans (with liquid) about 1/2 cup of ketchup and 1/2 cup of chicken broth, 2 tabelspoons oregano and simmer for about half an hour... Drain pasta, top with mixture and top that with crumbled Feta Cheese...Best of luck!

[naz_nomad]

I've used this recipe for years, totally from memory.

But I've remembered the name and found it online, saves me all that typing... try it, it's gorgeous



Spaghetti Alla Carrettiere

Serves 4 as a main course, 6 as a starter

1 lb spaghetti or tagliatelle
8oz mushrooms ... (I use a tin of buttons from Lidl)
3 tbs. olive oil
2 cloves garlic
1 small chili pepper or 1 tsp crushed dried chili flakes
3 rahsers smoked bacon
14oz tinned tomatoes ... (I use chopped)
small tin of tuna fish ... ( I use flaked)
parsley to garnish ... (whatever)

Heat the oil and add the finely chopped garlic and chili pepper.
When the garlic begins to change colour add the bacon cut into small pieces (about 1 inch squares).
When the fat begins to melt from the bacon add the mushrooms and, after 5 minutes, the drained tomatoes. After 15 minutes on a low heat add the well-drained, flaked tuna.
Cook gently for another 15 minutes. During this time, cook the pasta following packet directions carefully to avoid overcooking.
Drain the pasta, turn into a heated serving dish and stir in the mushroom sauce, mixing well.
Add the chopped parsley and serve at once.

You might think bacon and tuna together sound odd, but when it's cooked, the flavors all blend together very nicely!

[maviscoull]

for lunch i have made cheese sauce and sprinkled in herbs and stirred the pasta through it ......lovely !!

[crisgal]

if I'm cooking for myself and just want something very quick, i fry a few mushrooms and then melt some cream cheese into them (philli type). That's it!
You can make it a bit more spesh, depending what you have in the house and how much time you have - bacon, pesto - cream etc.

[crisgal]

ooh, ooh I've just remembered!
When i lived in italy, a friend made me the simplest, fastest pasta dish ever:
While the spaghetti is cooking, heat some olive oil with a couple of whole garlic cloves and and some chopped chilli in. remove them with a slotted spoon and then toss into the spaghetti!
Ecco fato!
Try it - it's surprisingly very tasty.
(It's a great one when you've not much in, as you don't serve cheese with it)

[Susan123]

Saute half an onion with some garlic, add in some cream, let it simmer for a while, season lightly, then add in some white wine, before serving add in sliced smoked salmon. Yum.
Or, saute onion, with garlic, add chopped toms, simmer for ages (the longer you simmer, the less acidy the sauce will taste) then add in finely chopped herbs, ie rosemary, parsley, etc but not too much or it will be overpowering, then at the very end, add in some cream and stir, Deelish, yes I know it has cream in it too.
Without cream - and this is really quick - while the (short is better)pasta is cooking, chop up fresh tomatoes, add in crumbled fetta and loads of basil, a good lot of olive oil, or you can put mozzarella instead of fetta. Season with pepper. Yum yum yum. Don't foget a glass of nice red to go with it.

[blue2]

Thanks for all your gorgeous suggestions!