Name: Simple tomato pasta
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Spain
Ingredients: 400 g pasta (spaghetti or macaroni); 400 g crushed tomatoes; 2 garlic cloves; 3 tbsp olive oil; Salt, pepper and oregano; Grated cheese to taste

Ingredients

How many are you cooking for?

Original recipe for 4 servings

400 g pasta (spaghetti or macaroni)
400 g crushed tomatoes
2 garlic cloves
3 tbsp olive oil
Salt, pepper and oregano
Grated cheese to taste

Step by step

Follow the timeline: technique icon, time and temperature when relevant.

Step 1 Pot / simmer

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to the pack until al dente and reserve a cup of cooking water before draining.
Step 2 Pan 1 min

Meanwhile, sauté sliced garlic in olive oil over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, without browning.
Step 3 Pot / simmer 10 min

Add crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper and oregano. Simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly.
Step 4 Serve

Toss drained pasta with the sauce; add a splash of cooking water if needed to emulsify. Serve topped with grated cheese.

Storage

Consumir preferiblemente el mismo día; refrigerar hasta 48 h.

Chef tips

Starchy cooking water helps the sauce cling and turn silky.
A bay leaf in the tomato adds depth (remove before tossing).
Fresh basil at the end transforms the dish.

Allergens

Diet

Not vegetarian (contains animal products)

Variations

Substitutions for a vegan version

Instead of: Grated cheese to taste

Use: same amount of grated vegan cheese or mix 2 parts nutritional yeast + 1 part ground almonds

Why: Cheese adds fat, salt and umami; nutritional yeast mimics fermented flavour in sauces and gratins.

Tip: Add off heat to melt. For gratin, use vegan cheese that melts well. Taste for salt before serving.

Other variations

Ajusta verduras o especias según temporada.

Quick summary

At-a-glance while you cook. Full details are in the step-by-step.

1 Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to the pack until al dente and reserve a cup of cooking water before draining.
2 Meanwhile, sauté sliced garlic in olive oil over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, without browning.
3 Add crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper and oregano. Simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly.
4 Toss drained pasta with the sauce; add a splash of cooking water if needed to emulsify. Serve topped with grated cheese.