Red Sauce Pasta is a delicious hot and tangy meal made by cooking past, tossing it in a tomato based sauce and seasoned with spices. Red Sauce Pasta is kid friendly and can be packed for lunchbox too. Pasta in Red Sauce is explained here with step by step pictures and video.
Red Sauce Pasta is an Indo-Italian dish made using tomatoes as base. Red Sauce Pasta can be made with or without vegetables as per our preference. I have already posted a version with vegetables so here I have shared a basic quick and easy recipe.
About Red Sauce Pasta
Red Sauce Pasta is nothing but pasta cooked and tossed in tomato based sauce along with seasoning and spices. As the sauce looks red in color because of the addition of tomatoes it is popularly known as Red Sauce Pasta.
Red Sauce Pasta can be made using vegetables like onion, carrot, mushrooms, bell pepper etc or can be made with just garlic and onion too. Both tastes good so it is your personal preference. The red sauce making is a bit time consuming as it takes a bit of time for tomato puree to get cooked but worth the time and effort I would say.
This is one of the tasty and best pasta recipes I have tried as a beginner. Yes when I started cooking pasta the first 2 recipes I learnt was this Red Sauce Pasta and White Sauce Pasta.
Believe it or not slowly I have started to have less liking to pasta dishes so whenever I make pasta dishes for kids and hubby, I settle with leftover idli or rice for dinner. But at times during my busy hours I can always eat Red Sauce Pasta over White Sauce Pasta or any other sauce of that sort. I love the tangy sauce the best in this dish.
Best Pasta Variety to use
You can use any pasta variety you like but the ones I would recommend is penne or macaroni or spaghetti. This pasta can be made using regular pasta or durum wheat pasta – I have used wheat pasta to make it wholesome and healthy.
The best suited pasta varieties for red sauce pasta are : Penne, Spaghetti, Bucatini, Tortiglioni, Macaroni etc.
Best cheese to use
You can either use Parmesan cheese or processed cheese or mozarella cheese they are best for red sauce pasta.
Red Sauce Pasta Video
Similar Recipes
Red Sauce Pasta Ingredients
- Pasta – Pasta variety preferred for this recipe is either Penne or zussili. However you can use any pasta variety for this dish. You can also choose between regular pasta or whole wheat pasta.
- Spices & Herbs – Chili flakes and mixed herbs are used. In addition you can add oregano too.
- Onion, Garlic – Onion and garlic adds a great flavor to red sauce pasta. You can use capsicum, carrots, mushroom in addition.
- Tomatoes – Choose juicy ripe tomatoes. Make sure they are not very sour.
- Cheese – You can use processed cheese or cheddar cheese or Parmesan.
How to make Red Sauce Pasta Step by Step
1.Boil 4 cups water in a sauce pan. Let it boil – add required salt to it.
2.Add 1 cup pasta to it. I used whole wheat pasta.
3.Cook in medium flame.
4.Reserve 3/4 cup cooked pasta water and set aside.
5.Cook until al dente (fork tender). The timing may differ for whole wheat and regular pasta.
6.Drain the pasta, rinse with cold water and set aside.
7.Heat 1 tablespoon oil – add 1 tablespoon garlic finely chopped.
8.Add 1/2 cup onion, add required salt saute until golden.
9.Add 1 cup tomato puree – blend 4 big tomatoes in a mixer jar without adding water, tomato puree is ready.Cook until raw smell leaves it will take at least 5-7 mins.
10.Add 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes, 1/2 teaspoon mixed herbs, 1/2 teaspoon pepper powder and 1 tablespoon tomato sauce.
11.Add reserved pasta cooked water.
12.Give a quick mix.
13.Let the sauce boil for a minute.
14.Add cooked pasta.
15.Toss well until the sauce coats the pasta evenly.
16.Serve hot with a sprinkle of cheese grated.
Enjoy Red Sauce Pasta hot!
Expert Tips
- You can make the red sauce well ahead and store it in fridge. It keeps well for a week if refrigerated.
- The sauce should coat the pasta well so make it saucy and not dry.
- Make sure to balance the tangy tomato taste with spices like chili flakes and mixed herbs.
- Feel free to use your own choice of vegetables, herbs and spices.
- I have used olive oil for cooking but you can use any cooking oil that is flavor less.
- Adding pasta cooked water makes the sauce thick and tasty.
- Choose tomatoes that are ripe, juicy and not very soar.
Variations
- You can add 1/4 cup fresh cream at the end to make it a more rich and creamy sauce but adjust the spices accordingly.
- Add grated cheese at the end to make it more cheesy and goey.
- You can also add 2 tablespoon mayonnaise to make the pasta more creamy.
Storing & Serving Suggestion
- Serve it as such hot or serve it along with toasted bread.
- I would recommend to consume it fresh. In case you want to store, make the sauce separately store in fridge then mix it with pasta while serving.
- Red Sauce keeps well in fridge for about a week if handled properly. If you are planning to store add an extra tablespoon oil while cooking the sauce.
FAQS
1.What is the best way to cook pasta in red sauce?
Make sure to cook red sauce without any raw smell also adding pasta cooked water helps in making the sauce thick and tasty. Also cook pasta only till fork tender else it will the pasta will become mushy.
2.What type of pasta is best for Red Sauce Pasta?
Any pasta variety will suit for red sauce but I recommend Penne, Spaghetti, Bucatini, Tortiglioni etc.
3.Can I make the pasta sauce ahead and store?
Yes definitely you can make the pasta sauce well ahead and store in fridge. If veggies like carrot, capsicum, other veggies are added then I would recommend to consume it within 2-3 days even if it is stored in fridge.
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📖 Recipe Card
Red Sauce Pasta Recipe (Red Pasta)
Ingredients
- 1 cup pasta
- 4 cups water
- salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic finely chopped
- 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
- 1 cup tomato puree
- 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon mixed herbs
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed pepper
- 1 tablespoon tomato sauce
- cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Boil 4 cups water in a sauce pan. Let it boil – add required salt to it.
- Add 1 cup pasta to it. I used whole wheat pasta.
- Cook in medium flame.
- Reserve 3/4 cup cooked pasta water and set aside.
- Cook until aldente (fork tender). The timing may differ for whole wheat and regular pasta.
- Drain the pasta, rinse with cold water and set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil – add 1 tablespoon garlic finely chopped.
- Add 1/2 cup onion, add required salt saute until golden.
- Add 1 cup tomato puree – blend 4 big tomatoes in a mixer jar without adding water, tomato puree is ready.Cook until raw smell leaves it will take atleast 5-7 mins.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes, 1/2 teaspoon mixed herbs, 1/2 teaspoon pepper powder and 1 tablespoon tomato sauce.
- Add reserved pasta cooked water.
- Give a quick mix.
- Let the sauce boil for a minute.
- Add cooked pasta.
- Toss well until the sauce coats the pasta evenly.
- Serve hot with a sprinkle of cheese grated.
Video
Notes
- You can make the red sauce well ahead and store it in fridge. It keeps well for a week if refrigerated.
- Make sure to balance the tangy tomato taste with spices like chilli flakes and mixed herbs.
- Feel free to use your own choice of vegetables, herbs and spices.
- I have used olive oil for cooking but you can use any cooking oil that is flavourless.
Adding pasta cooked water makes the sauce thick and tasty. - Choose tomatoes that are ripe, juicy and not very soar.
- I have used penne variety pasta but you can use any variety of your choice like fusilli, macaroni etc.
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