Spaghetti alla Napoletana

 

My earlier posts are evidence of my affinity towards pasta. It is my answer to several situations. Lazy days/busy days, dont-feel-like-ordering-a-take-away days, kids-dont-sleep days. This is a simple sauce. When I make this I dont have to think. I can just go in auto-pilot mode. I dont have to worry if my little boy would like it or not. He is a pasta lover.



Especially this one here which is uses a simple homemade tomato sauce. When I make it for the kids, I go easy on the chilli flakes. But use them as a garnish alone for myself.


 

Spaghetti alla Napoletana

Yeild – 3 to 4 portions

Things you need -

250 gms Spaghetti or any pasta of your choice
3 tbsp olive oil
200gms cherry tomatoes, halved or 3 medium ordinary tomatoes, chopped
handful basil leaves
1 medium onion, chopped fine
4-5 cloves of garlic, minced
half a tsp crushed pepper
half – 3/4 cup water
2-3 tsp salt for cooking pasta + 1 tsp for the sauce. Adjust as per taste
1 tsp dried chilli flakes or minced red chillies, optional. Adjust as per your liking
1 tsp sugar. Adjust as per liking
For Garnish
grated parmesan cheese, olive oil, cherry tomatoes, chillies or chilli flakes, pepper and few basil leaves, optional

How I made it

1. Cook the pasta al dente in salted water as per manufacturers instructions. Drain the water and keep aside.
2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce. Heat olive oil in a pan. Add onion and crushed garlic and cook on medium heat until the onions turn tender. Ensure they don't turn brown.
3. Add tomatoes, pepper, chillies, basil, sugar, salt. Remember the pasta is cooked with salt. So add the salt to the sauce accordingly. You don't want to end up with an overly salty dish.
4. Once the tomatoes start to turn mushy,add half to 3/4 cup water and allow the sauce to simmer for 10-15 minutes. You may add more water to achieve the desired consistency of the sauce.
5. Now switch off heat and add the pasta to the sauce and toss carefully.
6. Garnish with parmesan, basil, olive oil, cherry tomatoes, chillies, chilli flakes and serve immediately.

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