Tomato lifesaver pasta (with vodka option)

recipe

Tomato lifesaver pasta (with vodka option)

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Student staple - evolved from years of brother and sister student life. Subject to many tasty variations. Cook it - maybe add a bit of vodka if there's any going

Ingredients

2 tbsps olive oil
1 medium onion, very finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed or very finely chopped
Pinch salt
2 x 410g/14oz cans chopped tomatoes
Pinch sugar
Sea salt and black pepper
Squeeze lemon
Fresh or dried basil/thyme/oregano (optional)
Vodka (optional)
350g/12oz penne
Butter or extra oil
Parmesan/Cheddar, freshly grated (optional)
Pesto (optional)

Serves: 4

Directions

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Make sauce: heat oil gently in pan. Stir in chopped onion, garlic, salt.
Cook to soften over low heat for mins without colouring.
Stir in tomatoes, sugar. Simmer very gently for ? minutes. Stir occasionally. Season, taste, adjust balance of flavour by adding lemon, herbs, optional vodka. Cool sauce for later or use immediately.
Meantime cook pasta. Drain. Slap back into pan and add a bit of butter/oil and optional vodka if not used in the sauce.
Stir hot sauce in. Or slap onto naked pasta. Or put in heatproof bowls, top with cheese and pesto. Grill till bubbling.
You can also:
blitz sauce with blender for a smooth version
stir in tbsps double cream, mascarpone or Philadelphia at step for touch of luxury
skip the onion. Garlic only gives a softer taste.
chop bacon and chilli in at step for a punchy pasta
add chopped, de-seeded red/orange peppers at step
grate a bit of fresh ginger in at step to lift the taste
dice a bit of mozzarella into hot sauce just before serving