Description
A flavorful and spicy tomato spaghetti recipe featuring a rich, homemade tomato sauce infused with garlic, dried chili, and oregano, served over perfectly cooked spaghetti and finished with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, finely sliced
- 1 dried red chilli or a large pinch of red chilli flakes (optional)
- ½ tsp caster sugar
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes or passata
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt, to taste
For the Pasta
- 400g spaghetti
- 1 tbsp olive oil (remaining 1 tbsp from total 3 tbsp)
- 15g parmesan, finely grated, to serve
Instructions
- Make the Sauce: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a shallow pan over medium heat. Add the finely sliced garlic and the dried chilli (if using) and sauté for about 2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Sugar and Vinegar: Sprinkle in ½ teaspoon of caster sugar and pour in 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar. Stir to combine and balance the flavors.
- Add Tomatoes and Herbs: Pour in the chopped tomatoes or passata from the two 400g cans, then add 1 teaspoon of dried oregano and season with salt. Reduce the heat to low and let simmer gently for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens.
- Cook the Spaghetti: While the sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving a little pasta water if desired.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Return the drained spaghetti to the saucepan. Remove the whole dried chilli from the sauce and pour the sauce over the pasta. Toss together over low heat for 1-2 minutes until the pasta is heated through and well coated.
- Finish and Serve: Turn off the heat. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle the finely grated parmesan cheese over the top if using. Serve immediately.
Notes
- For a less spicy version, omit the dried chilli or reduce the amount of red chilli flakes used.
- The sauce can be made in advance and chilled for up to two days or frozen for up to three months.
- To add extra flavor, fresh basil or parsley can be garnished on top just before serving.
- If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of pasta cooking water to loosen it before tossing with the spaghetti.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: spicy tomato spaghetti, Italian pasta recipe, vegetarian spaghetti, homemade tomato sauce, easy pasta dinner, garlic tomato sauce
