Serves: 2 (just double the quantities if cooking for 4)

Note: Cooking times are for Pasta Famiglia pasta

Ingredients:

  • 1 bag of Pasta Famiglia Spaghetti (200 grams)
  • 1-2 extra ripe chopped tomatoes (e.g. 2 large Romas or 1 extra large heirloom)
  • 1 clove of finely minced garlic
  • Small bunch of finely minced Italian parsley
  • 4-5 large leaves of basil
  • 2.5 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • Sea salt
  • Black pepper

Sauce:

  • Add olive oil to a frying pan and set to a medium heat
  • Add the minced garlic and parsley to the frying pan and sauté for 2 minutes
  • Add the tomatoes, which have been chopped into small pieces, to the olive oil
  • Add a small dash of salt to the sauce
  • Turn the frying pan up to a medium high heat
  • As the tomatoes cook, mash them down into the oil to release their juices
  • When the sauce has begun to thicken (usually within 5 minutes), tear 2 of the basil leaves (do not chop) and add them to the sauce
  • Turn heat back down to medium and continue to simmer

Pasta:

  • Start with 4-5 litres of water boiling in a large pot for the pasta
  • When pasta water has reached a rolling boil, add enough salt so that the water tastes like the Mediterranean i.e. the sea
  • Add one bag of Pasta Famiglia Spaghetti (200g) to the boiling water
  • Set timer for 4 minutes and leave pasta alone
  • Give a gentle stir to the pasta at 4 minutes
  • Set your timer for 2 more minutes

Finishing touches:

  • Bringing pasta and sauce together!
  • Check your sauce. When it smells and tastes a bit sweet, plus has thickened, it is ready
  • Add a quarter of a ladle of the salty pasta water to the sauce and stir it in
  • Add fresh ground pepper to sauce
  • Once the 2 minutes are up, the pasta should be nearly ready (it should be slightly harder than Al Dente)
  • Save & set aside another quarter ladle of pasta water
  • Strain the pasta well and add it to the sauce. Toss or stir the pasta in the sauce for the next 1-1.5 minutes.
  • After the 1-1.5 minutes have passed, taste the pasta to make sure it is Al Dente if not add the saved pasta water & cook another 30 seconds to 1 minute
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately
  • Garnish using the remaining basil (again tear – do not chop!) and add a grating of Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese

Easy and tasty peasant cooking in 12-15 minutes!

If you are eating the Pasta Famiglia way, you cook and eat with someone you love. It makes food and life better!

 

Buon Appetitto your Pastaio (pasta maker)

Pasta Boy Peter Ciuffa