Description
A classic Italian pasta dish, Pasta Napoletana features a rich and flavorful tomato sauce served with spaghetti or bucatini, topped with fresh basil and grated parmesan. This recipe is easy to make and perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8oz (220 grams) spaghetti or bucatini (short pasta is fine too)
Napoletana Sauce
- 1 Tbsp olive oil or extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 1 medium-sized onion, finely chopped
- 2–3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (14oz/400 grams) tomatoes (whole, diced or cherry tomatoes)
- ½ tsp fine salt, plus more to taste
- ⅛ tsp black pepper
- 1 handful of basil leaves, chopped or torn
- 3 Tbsp grated parmesan, to serve
Instructions
- Pasta – Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Start cooking the pasta about 5 minutes after you start making the sauce.
- Napoletana Sauce – Heat the olive oil in a large pan and when it starts shimmering add the diced onion. Cook over medium heat until soft and translucent, it will take 5-6 minutes.
Cook pasta per packet instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta cooking water, then drain pasta.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
Add the tomatoes, salt and few twists of black pepper and give a good stir. Let it cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes until it’s slightly reduced. Stir occasionally, and if you use whole tomatoes, break them with the back of a spoon.
When the sauce is ready, taste and adjust the seasoning according to your liking.
Add the drained pasta to the pan along with the fresh basil and toss until well combined. Add a touch of reserved starchy water to make the pasta juicier and moist.
Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese and more torn fresh basil leaves. Freshly ground black pepper and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to serve are optional. Enjoy!
Notes
- ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS: you can add a handful of whole or chopped olives, canned tuna (previously drained), a few anchovies or 1 Tbsp of capers. Add one of these ingredients (or also a couple of them) when the onion is translucent. Toss them with the onion for a couple of minutes, then add the canned tomatoes according to the recipe.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 324 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 4mg
