Pasta la Pomod-Oh! hero image

Pasta la Pomod-Oh!

Classic Tomato Sauce Pasta, Pantry-Style

35 minutes
Serves 4
DinnerItalian
Herb's take

This recipe is a love letter to Italian cucina povera, where a couple of humble ingredients transform into dinner heroics. You’ll learn the art of coaxing big tomato flavor from small pantry means, all while keeping it strictly store-cupboard.

Ingredients

Yield
4

Instructions

  1. 01
    Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt generously, then add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. 02
    Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic powder and onion powder, blooming them in the oil for about 30 seconds to wake up their flavors.
  3. 03
    Add the chopped tomatoes and all their juices to the skillet. Stir in sugar and oregano.
  4. 04
    Simmer the sauce for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and the tomatoes break down. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
  5. 05
    If the sauce gets too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  6. 06
    Add the drained pasta to the sauce, tossing to coat evenly. Add pasta water bit by bit until the sauce clings nicely.
  7. 07
    Serve immediately, with an optional extra crack of black pepper on top.

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