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Close-up of creamy pasta with chunky tomato sauce and herbs, perfect for The Ultimate Pasta Recipes Guide.

The Ultimate Pasta Recipes Guide for Beginners

This guide provides simple steps for making basic pasta dishes. You will learn fundamental techniques for cooking pasta and preparing common sauces.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

Pasta Ingredients
  • 1 pound Dried spaghetti or linguine
  • 1 tablespoon Salt For the pasta water
Simple Tomato Sauce Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons Olive oil
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 28 ounces Canned crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon Red pepper flakes Optional

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Skillet
  • Colander

Method
 

  1. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente (firm to the bite).
  2. Prepare the sauce: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let it brown.
  3. Simmer the sauce: Pour in the crushed tomatoes. Stir in the dried oregano and red pepper flakes, if using. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Season the sauce: Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper as needed.
  5. Combine: Drain the cooked pasta using a colander. Add the drained pasta directly to the skillet with the tomato sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated.
  6. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 15gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 400mgFiber: 6gSugar: 8g

Notes

To prevent the pasta from sticking, stir it frequently during the first few minutes of boiling. For a richer sauce, add a splash of the starchy pasta water to the sauce before combining it with the noodles.

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