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5 ingredient tomato pasta with penne, topped with parmesan and fresh basil in a white bowl

5 Ingredient Tomato Pasta

A cheap, pantry friendly pasta made with simple ingredients. Quick, easy, and ready in under 20 minutes.
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Prep Time:5 minutes
Cook Time:15 minutes
Total Time:20 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Keyword: budget pasta recipe, Easy Dinner, pantry pasta, Tomato Pasta
Servings: 2
Author: Kate Brodhurst
Cost: Under $5

Ingredients

  • 250g dried pasta, such as spaghetti or penne
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely diced (or 2 teaspoons crushed garlic)
  • 400g can finely diced tomatoes (Mutti brand)
  • 1 teaspoon dried herbs

You will also need

  • Oil, for cooking
  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of well salted water to the boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, following packet instructions. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain.
  • Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and lightly golden. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  • Add the tomatoes and dried herbs. Stir well then bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly.
  • Add the drained pasta to the sauce along with a splash of the reserved pasta water. Toss well to coat, adding more pasta water a little at a time until the sauce clings to the pasta.
  • Taste and adjust with salt if needed. If the sauce tastes too sharp, add a small pinch of sugar. Serve hot.

Notes

  1. MEASUREMENTS: We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon = 5 ml, 1 tablespoon = 20 ml & 1 cup =  250 ml.
  2. BALANCE THE ACIDITY: Add a pinch of sugar if the sauce tastes too sharp.
  3. ADD PROTEIN: Tuna or beans work well if you want to make it more filling.
  4. USE WHAT YOU HAVE: This recipe is flexible and works with whatever is in your pantry. You can add olives, capers, jarred artichokes, roasted capsicum or sundried tomatoes if you like.