Pasta with a basic Tomato and Basil sauce

Pasta with a Basic Tomato and Basil Sauce

(with hidden vegies... shhhhh!!)

This is such a quick pasta sauce you'll never buy pre-made sauce again! I have hidden zucchini in mine tonight cause that's what I had in the fridge , but you can pretty much add ANY vegie to this if you dice it up fine enough. Or don't add any and just have the sauce on it's own.

There is also another indregient in this that needs mentioning, and that's anchovies. Of course if you're allergic or vegetarian you can leave them out (just make sure you add salt instead), but if not, whether you like them or not, PUT THEM IN!!! They completely disintegrate and you can't taste them as anchovies, but they add such a depth of flavour that you really need in a simple sauce like this. They really will make a lot of difference. So do it okay!!!

Also it's important to use a good brand of canned tomatoes. I use 'Androma'. If you get a bad brand it will be too watery.

Time taken?: 20 minutes.

2 year old friendly?: Yep. My boy loves his pasta!

INGREDIENTS
1 500g packet of Penne Pasta
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 can of canned chopped tomatos
1 can of canned whole peeled tomatoes
1 medium brown onion, diced finely
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 zucchini, diced finely (or any vegie/s)
3 or 4 anchovie fillets
A handful of fresh basil, torn into pieces.
Freshly grated parmesan, to serve


METHOD
Put a large pot of water on to boil for the pasta
Put olive oil, garlic and onion in a medium saucepan and cook, stirring until onion starts to go transparent.
Add zucchini and anchovies and cook, stirring, until anchovies are disolved.
Add the 2 cans of tomatoes, breaking up the whole ones with a wooden spoon or potato masher once cooking in the saucepan.
Add pepper and half of the basil leaves. Bring to boil and then turn heat down to simmer.
Meanwhile, your pasta water should be boiling. Add a generous handful of salt and then the pasta, stirring initially to seperate.
When pasta is cooked, drain pasta, return it to the saucepan and add sauce (it should have reduced slightly while the pasta was cooking- this is all it needs). Stir the sauce through the pasta to combine well and then add the remaining basil leaves.
Serve topped with lots of freshly grated parmesan.