Quick and gorgeous Spaghetti and Tomato Sauce

“The strands of spaghetti were vital, almost alive in my mouth, and the olive oil was singing with flavor. It was hard to imagine that four simple ingredients [olive oil, pasta, garlic and cheese] could marry so perfectly.” Ruth Reichl, Tender at the Bone (1998)

Quick and gorgeous Spaghetti and Tomato Sauce with Vegetarian (soya) meatballs

This is a recipe I make at least once a week and when I do, I always have to make extra as my son’s friends (neighbours) come over too.

They always ask me Sonia aunty when will you make that yummy tomato sauce and Spaghetti?

Feel free to amend this recipe to suit your personal taste. I make this sauce with and without meatballs and sometimes even without mushrooms.

Serving this dish with garlic bread makes it purrrfect!


Ingredients:

8oz/220g Spaghetti
3tsp Olive oil
6 cloves of garlic (crushed or finely chopped)
2 - 400g tins of plum tomatoes or chopped
Handful of fresh basil (roughly chopped)
Pinch of paprika
½tsp Worcester sauce or dark soya sauce
6 small or 4 large Mushrooms (chopped)
Soya Meatballs or Soya mince (found in freezer department at Asda) - optional
Salt & freshly ground pepper
½ cup water
Handful Cheddar or parmesan Cheese for garnish (grated)

Recipe:

1. Bring a large pan of water to the boil and cook the spaghetti according to packet instructions.

2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a pan and add the garlic. As it starts to brown, add the 2 tins of tomatoes

3. Whilst the tomatoes cook, add basil, paprika, Worcester/soya sauce, salt, pepper, mushrooms and soya meatballs or mince.

4. Bring to boil and simmer on low heat for about 15 mins, taste to see if it meets with your taste. In the meantime, the pasta should be done too.

5. Garnish with cheese and serve immediately

Tips:

• The sauce can be made and frozen to use another day, when you really just do not feel like cooking.
• I have added mince instead of veggie soya meatballs and it has still been a real hit with adults and children. If you do want to add this, do it at stage 3, add with other ingredients.
• You can add other vegetables too; sliced green peppers, chopped carrots are some suggestions or even a glass of wine at stage 3.

Then sit back and enjoy!

Preparation time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 15 mins
Easy/Hard to make: Very Easy