4.0 from 42 votes
Classic Red Sauce Pasta Recipe
This rich delicious Red Sauce Pasta is a classic! A homemade tomato sauce that takes under 30 minutes to make, packed with flavor this will be your go-to red sauce recipe. Forget your jar of marinara sauce. This Red Sauce Pasta is the BEST quick pasta dinner you can make. Onion, red bell peppers, and garlic all cooked slowly together in olive oil until they are sweet and soft. Pureed with chopped tomatoes, with a few seasonings and then simmered. Quick, easy and so delicious!
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 372 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 large onions (peeled and chopped)
- 2 red bell peppers (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 garlic cloves (peeled and sliced)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano - see note 1
- 1 can diced tomatoes (28oz/800g can) - see note 2
- 1 teaspoon sugar - see note 3
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 14 oz pasta - see note 4
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a large frying pan, skillet or saute pan.
- Add the onions, bell peppers and salt. Cook these for 10-15 minutes over medium heat until soft.
- Add the chopped garlic and oregano, then cook over low heat for a further 5 minutes.
- Tip the contents of the pan into the blender or food processor, add the canned tomatoes, sugar and black pepper, then whizz until the sauce is pureed to your liking.
- Return the sauce to the pan and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5-10 minutes.
- Add the extra virgin olive oil to the sauce just before you add it to the pasta.
Cup of Yum
To cook the pasta (whilst the sauce is simmering)
- Bring a large pan of water to a boil, add 1 tablespoon of salt and cook the pasta as the packet suggests.
- Reserve a cup of the pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta.
- Return it to the pan and add the red pasta sauce.
- Stir gently over low heat to combine the pasta, add a splash of the cooking water if needed.
Notes
- Nonna Gaia uses fresh oregano, but that can be harder to find. If you have fresh oregano, add it to the blender with the tomatoes and use 1 tablespoon.
- Use good quality canned tomatoes, they are the essence of the red sauce, so you want the best you can afford.
- Canned tomatoes can vary in sweetness and acidity, so I like to balance the acidity with some sugar. Feel free to leave it out or use less if your tomatoes are sweet enough.
- Any pasta will work here, penne, rigatoni, ziti fusilli, shells or long pasta like spaghetti or linguine.
Nutrition Information
Calories
372kcal
(19%)
Carbohydrates
59g
(20%)
Protein
10g
(20%)
Fat
11g
(17%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Sodium
493mg
(21%)
Potassium
420mg
(12%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
7g
(14%)
Vitamin A
1322IU
(26%)
Vitamin C
60mg
(67%)
Calcium
52mg
(5%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 372
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 372kcal | 19% |
| Carbohydrates | 59g | 20% |
| Protein | 10g | 20% |
| Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Sodium | 493mg | 21% |
| Potassium | 420mg | 9% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 1322IU | 26% |
| Vitamin C | 60mg | 67% |
| Calcium | 52mg | 5% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.