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Napolitana pasta with basil in a white bowl.

Easy 30 Minute Pasta Napoletana

Pasta Napolitana is a quick and delicious tomato sauce that is ready in only 30 minutes. Bright cherry tomatoes, sweet sauteed onions and garlic with a hint of heat from the chilli flakes.
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Easy Dinners, One pot meals, pasta & noodles
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced/ chopped
  • 400 g tin cherry tomatoes *see notes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ½ teaspoon crushed chili flakes
  • 500 g spaghetti
  • For serving
  • Basil
  • Parmesan cheese shaved

Instructions

  • Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta, saving a cup of the pasta water, and set it aside.
  • In a heavy high-sided skillet heat the oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot it will shimmer. Add the diced onion to the oil and saute for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic into the pan and saute for another 5 minutes. Season with sea salt.
  • Mix the tomato paste into the onion and garlic and stir for 1 minute. Pour the tinned cherry tomatoes into the pan and bring to a gentle simmer. Simmer for 5-10 minutes until your desired consistency is reached and the flavours have a chance to marry together. Taste and adjust the seasoning. If the sauce is a little too thick, add some of the pasta water.
  • Stir in the chili flakes and some chopped basil. Add the cooked pasta to the pan and toss to coat the spaghetti. Divide into bowls and serve with parmesan cheese and extra basil.

Notes

  1. I’ve used cherry tomatoes here, but you could easily substitute chopped tomatoes.
  2. Make a batch of this sauce to keep in the freezer for busy weeknights or an emergency dinner.

Nutrition

Calories: 580kcal | Carbohydrates: 106g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 209mg | Potassium: 708mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 415IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 3mg
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