A lazy weekend or midweek meal recipe idea.
Spaghetti, for me, is the ultimate in comfort food. It brings me back to my childhood and the eight zillion plates of spaghetti I grew up on; spaghetti swimming in jarred Ragu sauce. Gosh I loved that stuff. There were no lashings of cheese to serve over the top of it either (we were poor – cheese was a luxury), it was simply cooked pasta with a jar of sauce poured over the top of it. Absolute heaven.
I mind getting a bit older and learning how to cook the spaghetti myself – I was taught that it was done when it stuck to the wall (or ceiling) when flung at high velocity. I had to climb on many a chair to remove a piece of hot cooked spaghetti sticking to the ceiling!
Spaghetti is one of the things I can make for my fussy children that they will eat without fail. Their favourite is served simply with a drizzle of good quality olive oil, plenty of Parmesan cheese, a sprinkle of parsley and some halved cherry tomatoes and kalamata olives. Give them some fresh crusty bread with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip it into and they are in culinary heaven.
I haven’t bought a jar of ready made pasta sauce in a very long time.
A few months ago I learned about a traditional simple tomato sauce from Sardinia – garlic is cooked in a bit of olive oil only briefly before adding passata and then a handful of basil. This is now, I believe, my children’s favourite ever pasta sauce recipe. Plates are cleared every time when I cook this for them. Yay me!
The nature of my husband’s work means he works six days a week for five weeks, and then he’s got a week off – his week of Saturdays. This week is one of those weeks and so we get to sit down together while the kids are at school and enjoy a nice quiet lunch. No nagging anyone to eat up their dinner, no having to get up every ten seconds because someone wants a glass of milk or has dropped their fork on the floor, again.
Peering into the fridge yesterday I spied half a jar of passata left over from the kids’ pasta the night before. We’d just returned from a brisk hill walk in the glorious Autumn sunshine and I quite fancied making some pasta for us, but jazzing it up a bit with a drizzle of chilli infused olive oil.
This was one of the best fifteen minute lunches I have ever, ever made, if I do say so myself!
The light was good, I managed to snap a few hurried half decent photos and we ate, thoroughly enjoying every mouthful. I served our pasta with some taggiasca olive tapenade on bruschetta too and the sharp olive spread paired perfectly with the chilli spaghetti. A flavour sensation, I tell you, and all ready in under fifteen minutes.
This is going to be one of our go-to recipes from now on – I could even make a full batch using the whole jar of passata, halve it, serve the kids their milder version and jazz up our half with the chilli infused olive oil.
The olive oil I am using is from Pomora, sent to me quarterly straight from Italy. The Spring shipment contained a rather delicious (and powerful!) chilli infused olive oil (see badge in sidebar), but you could always make your own by pouring some good quality olive oil over some hot chillies and leaving for a few days to develop. I do this when my veg box chillies start arriving as they are a bit too hot for our tastes.
Quick & Easy Chilli Spaghetti for Two
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil I use Pomora, see badge in sidebar
- 3 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 170 grams passata
- 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves torn
- 1 tbsp chilli infused olive oil I use Pomora, see badge in sidebar
- sea salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 200 grams dried spaghetti
Instructions
- Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the spaghetti according to the packet instructions.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a small saucepan.
- Add the chopped garlic and oregano and gently saute for a minute or two, until the garlic imparts its fragrance.
- Add the passta, cook for a further minute or two, and remove from the heat.
- Stir in the torn basil leaves and the chilli infused olive oil. Season to taste.
- Drain the spaghetti, coat with the sauce and serve with plenty of Parmesan!
OTHER QUICK AND EASY SPAGHETTI RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Barbecued Honey & Mustard Herring with Spaghetti & Avocado from Foodie Quine
Tomato, Garlic & Prawn Spaghetti by the Coriander Queen
Speedy Spicy Spaghetti Sauce by The Veg Space
Easy Garlicky Kale Sauce for Pasta, Rice and Other Grains by Coffee & Vanilla
Tenderstem Broccoli, Chilli and Garlic Spaghetti from Fab Food 4 All
Asparagus Carbonara with Sun Dried Tomatoes from Family, Friends, Food
Simple Tuna Puttanesca by Emily’s Recipes & Reviews
Radicchio and Walnut Spaghetti by Natural Kitchen Adventures
15-Minute Creamy Cheese & Black Pepper Pasta by Recipes from a Pantry
Spaghetti with Pea Pesto by Fuss Free Flavours
Roasted Red Pepper Spaghetti by Hungry, Healthy, Happy
One Pot Pasta Puttanesca by Thinly Spread
Quick & Easy Creamy Mushroom Pasta by The Hedgecombers
SHARING WITH SOME BLOGGING CHALLENGES
Meat Free Mondays by Tinned Tomatoes
Pasta Please by Thinly Spread and Tinned Tomatoes
Disclosure: this is not a paid post, although Pomora do sent me quarterly shipments of olive oil to use in my recipes, and to keep their banner in my side bar. If you click through and make a purchase I will also earn a small commission. Thank you for supporting the brands who make it possible for me to do what I love: mess up my kitchen and share recipe stories.
Mum of three, daydream adventurer, OU Life Sciences graduate, occasional crafter, ex-pat Canadian & quite possibly Britain's most northerly food blogger.
Robert Price says
Nice, quick and easy – ideal for me
Leila Benhamida says
I will make this for lunch soon. Will have to get some Chilli olive oil. Thanks for sharing. The taste of chilli and garlic together is mouthwatering.
Ava says
This recipe looks so amazing and refreshing.
I love all the “spaghetti” dishes and I definitely gonna try this at my home.
Kayleigh Rose says
My stomach is rumbling reading this and looking at the photographs. I am buying the ingredients on the weekend! x
Jagruti says
easy and quick recipe of chilli spaghetti sounds so delicious!
Jagruti recently posted…Barcelona – my unforgettable 3-day vacay!
Patrick Karuu says
Looks so delicious. Will try it some time
Lucy Robertson says
I tried it tastes really good
neha says
This sounds absolutely yummy and quite easy to prepare. My little one loves spaghetti. i am going to try this one on this weekend
Lisa @garlicandzest.com says
This is how I make my sauces as well – they’re so good and so easy – I can’t imagine buying a jarred sauce anymore!
Lisa @garlicandzest.com recently posted…Inauthentic Tabbouleh
Muhammad Anas says
I really love spaghetti and it is very easy recipe that everyone can easily make.
paypal login says
I love looks fab and your photos are gorgeous!
Emily Coates says
Looks delicious Elizabeth! Such simple flavours done well – yum!
Sarah - Craft Invaders says
This looks fab. Pinning x
Sarah – Craft Invaders recently posted…Teasel Hedgehogs
Margot says
This is my kind of dinner!! We just had some spiced up pasta with smoked paprika powder. Using chilli infused oil sounds delicious 🙂
And thank you for mentioning our kale pasta.
Isabella says
This looks so wonderful, fresh simple ingredients – and such a vibrant and delicious dish! I adore spaghetti, cant imagine life without it! Thank you so much for linking to my recipe 🙂
Isabella recently posted…Food Photography Props and Backgrounds
Johanna @ Green Gourmet Giraffe says
This looks wonderful – and now that it is bookmarked I am hoping it will appeal to my fussy one. I confess that I have bought a jar of pasta sauce and it has gone off because I did not think to use it. And an uninterrupted lunch with no nagging sounds like bliss!
Johanna @ Green Gourmet Giraffe recently posted…Asparagus, strawberry and greens salad with poppy seed dressing
Katie Crenshaw says
This looks so pretty. I love the addition of the chilli infused olive oil. Sounds delicious. This will make a perfect meal on a week night.
Kristine says
I love the smaller portion idea of this dish! Sometimes I don’t want to feed an army and this spaghetti would be perfect. It looks delightful! I can’t wait to try it.
Hanady says
Wow Your hubbies work schedule is so nice! Love the recipe pictures are gorgeous and the recipe seems easy enough! Will save this one!
Laura H says
Spaghetti is my go- to dish because I can’t cook much. I’ll try this version to change things up a bit next time 🙂
Laura H recently posted…BIDVINE: THE APP THAT HELPS YOU GET THINGS DONE
Jenny says
I love simple homemade pasta sauce – without the chilli for me though!
Sarah Maison Cupcake says
Love how you’ve presented this dish, so simple and sophisticated at same time!
Sarah Maison Cupcake recently posted…Blood Orange Polenta Cake (gluten free)
Kristen says
my husband loves pasta. I can’t wait to make this for him!!!
Pam Greer says
This is my favorite kind of recipe! Simple to let all the flavor of the ingredients shine!
Helen @ Family-Friends-Food.com says
Looks lush! You can’t beat a quick and easy pasta.
Helen @ Family-Friends-Food.com recently posted…Rustic apple galettes with honey and thyme
munchies and munchkins says
I do love a good quality chilli oil. I add chilli to lots of my pasta dishes. This looks delicious and simple which is just perfect.
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
I do love a simple spaghetti recipe! This looks to good – I love the sound of that chilli oil.
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche recently posted…Breakfast rice and beans
Kate | The Veg Space says
Just the sort of quick and easy spaghetti sauce I love, looks fab and your photos are gorgeous!
Kate | The Veg Space recently posted…Recipe: Roasted Tomato Arrabbiata Sauce
Laura@howtocookgoodfood says
This is definitely one of our favourite family meals too, it’s hard to believe how none of us ever tire of this meal and it’s always so much better to make your own pasta sauce. It will be on our menu this week!
Laura@howtocookgoodfood recently posted…Spiced Meatballs with Yoghurt & Coriander
Michelle @ Greedy Gourmet says
Simple and beautiful. If you’re feeling particularly naughty, surely a dash of double cream would also work. Proud to say I’ve never eaten jarred pasta sauce!
Michelle @ Greedy Gourmet recently posted…Keema Matar