Pasta la Pomod-Oh!
Classic Tomato Sauce Pasta, Pantry-Style
35 minutes
Serves 4
DinnerItalianVegetarian
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
- 01Bring 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.
- 02Meanwhile, 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.
- 03Add the chopped tomatoes and all their juices to the skillet. Stir in sugar and oregano.
- 04Simmer the sauce for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and the tomatoes break down. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- 05If the sauce gets too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- 06Add the drained pasta to the sauce, tossing to coat evenly. Add pasta water bit by bit until the sauce clings nicely.
- 07Serve immediately, with an optional extra crack of black pepper on top.
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