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Classic Red Sauce Pasta

A simple, flavorful red sauce pasta made with sautéed onions, peppers, garlic and good quality canned tomatoes.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 large onions peeled and chopped
  • 2 red bell peppers chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 garlic cloves peeled and sliced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano or 1 tablespoon fresh oregano (see notes)
  • 1 can (28 oz / 800 g) diced tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 14 oz pasta any shape (see notes)
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil to finish the sauce

Instructions

  • Heat 4 tablespoons olive oil in a large frying pan or skillet over medium heat.
  • Add the chopped onions, chopped red bell peppers and 1 teaspoon salt; cook for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
  • Stir in the sliced garlic and 1 teaspoon dried oregano; reduce heat to low and cook for 5 minutes more.
  • Transfer the pan contents to a blender or food processor, add the canned diced tomatoes, 1 teaspoon sugar and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, then puree to your desired consistency.
  • Return the blended sauce to the pan, bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 5–10 minutes to meld the flavors.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add 1 tablespoon salt, and cook the 14 oz pasta according to the package instructions until al dente.
  • Reserve one cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta in a colander.
  • Return the drained pasta to the pot, add the red sauce and 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, and gently stir over low heat to combine; add a splash of reserved pasta water if the sauce needs thinning.

Equipment

  • large frying pan or skillet
  • blender or food processor
  • large pot for pasta
  • Colander
  • wooden spoon or spatula

Notes

  • If using fresh oregano, add 1 tablespoon to the blender with the tomatoes.
  • Use good quality canned tomatoes for the best flavor.
  • Adjust or omit the sugar if your canned tomatoes are already sweet.
  • Any pasta shape works: penne, rigatoni, ziti, fusilli, shells, spaghetti or linguine.