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Comfort Food Pasta Bowl with Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce

10-Minute Pasta Bowl with Tomato and Basil Sauce

Published on October 7, 2018 • Last updated January 28, 2019 by Elizabeth Atia
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This simple recipe for tomato and basil pasta sauce uses storecupboard ingredients, including basil-infused Italian olive oil, and is ready in under 10 minutes! Serve with your favourite pasta and toppings, and enter our giveaway to win 3 x 250 ml tins of flavoured extra virgin olive oil from Pomora!

Comfort Food Pasta Bowl with Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce

A bowl of hot pasta in tomato sauce is one of those perfect, nostalgic comfort foods, to me. I grew up living off spaghetti with Ragu sauce, sprinkled liberally in that fake Parmesan cheese (remember that stuff, it was kept in the cupboard?!). Best dinner, ever.

Now, I find it’s cheaper (and tastier) to make my own sauce. I stock up on jars of passata rustica at the supermarket when I find them on offer (35p per jar!) and it takes just a matter of minutes to transform them into a delicious pasta sauce. Perfect for those busy midweek meals when I can’t be bothered to cook.

Regular readers to my blog will be familiar with the Pomora badge in my sidebar – it’s been there for a good few years now. Pomora is a small Italian olive oil company where, in exchange for ‘adopting’ an olive tree with a quarterly subscription, you receive twelve tins of olive oil throughout the year.

My olive oil comes from Antonio’s olive groves in Campania, and I’ve just received the autumn delivery of flavoured oils – basil-infused, garlic-infused and the gorgeous white truffle flavour.

It is the basil-infused olive oil that is the star of this recipe.

Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce Ingredients

Table of Contents

  • INGREDIENTS FOR TOMATO AND BASIL PASTA SAUCE
  • HOW TO MAKE TOMATO AND BASIL PASTA SAUCE
  • Comfort Food Pasta Bowl with Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce
  • TERMS & CONDITIONS

INGREDIENTS FOR TOMATO AND BASIL PASTA SAUCE

  • passata rustica (sieved tomatoes)
  • garlic – lots of fresh garlic, but you can use lazy garlic too if that’s all you have
  • olive oil (to cook)
  • basil-infused olive oil (to add at the end) – or add a big handful of fresh basil leaves along with a glug of extra virgin olive oil
  • fusilli pasta, to serve (my kids call this ‘normal pasta’)
  • sea salt, to add to the pasta water for cooking

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10-Minute Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce

HOW TO MAKE TOMATO AND BASIL PASTA SAUCE

Step 1: heat olive oil in a small saucepan

Step 2: add the chopped or crushed garlic. Cook for one minute, until fragrant.

Step 3: add passata rustica (sieved tomatoes) – I look out for bottles of this on offer in the supermarket – often 35p a bottle.

Step 4: bring to a simmer.

Step 5: remove from the heat and stir in a few spoonfuls of basil-infused olive oil or some extra virgin olive oil and a handful of torn, fresh basil leaves.

Step 6: pour over cooked pasta, top as desired and enjoy!

Comfort Food Pasta Bowl with Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce

This basic tomato sauce in a bowl of fusilli (aka “normal pasta”) is my children’s favourite go-to comfort food. Sometimes I jazz it up with a sprinkling of dried oregano added along with the garlic, or I use regular olive oil at the end and add a generous handful or two of torn basil leaves. Sometimes I add capers, anchovies and kalamata olives to make spaghetti puttanesca.

It’s an incredibly versatile base too. You could leave it to simmer and thicken for an hour or so to make pizza sauce, or throw in some overripe tomatoes and freeze the sauce for use at a later date.

How do you like your tomato sauce? Let me know in the comments!

Comfort Food Pasta Bowl with Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce

Comfort Food Pasta Bowl with Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce

This simple recipe uses storecupboard ingredients and is ready in under 10 minutes! Serve with your favourite pasta and toppings.
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Author: Elizabeth

Ingredients

for the tomato and basil pasta sauce

  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves crushed or finely chopped
  • 350 ml passata rustica
  • 2 tbsp basil-infused olive oil (I use Pomora)

to cook the pasta

  • 160 grams dried fusilli pasta or your favourite pasta
  • 1.5 tsp Shetland sea salt
  • 2 litres water

toppings

  • freshly ground black pepper
  • Parmesan cheese grated, or Cheddar (as pictured, DD's favourite)
  • chilli-infused olive oil (my favourite)
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This recipe card may contain affiliate ingredient and equipment links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Instructions 

  • Bring a pan of water to the boil. Add salt and pasta. Stir, and set timer according to packet instructions - between 8-11 minutes, usually, depending on the type of pasta.
  • Heat olive oil in small saucepan. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about one minute.
  • Stir in the passata rustica and bring to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes.
  • Remove from the heat, stir in the basil-infused olive oil.
  • Serve with your favourite pasta and toppings.

Notes

You don't need to add salt or pepper to this sauce, as you add salt when cooking the pasta (the way the Italians do!), and you add freshly ground black pepper to your individual serving along with your other toppings.
Top with grated Parmesan, Grana Padano or Cheddar cheese (this is the way my daughter likes it!). I like mine with a good drizzle of Pomora chilli-infused olive oil and plenty of freshly ground black pepper.

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10-minute pasta bowl with tomato & basil pasta sauce #pasta #tomato #basil #easyrecipe
10-minute pasta bowl with tomato & basil pasta sauce #tomato #basil #pasta #easyrecipe

POMORA OLIVE OIL GIVEAWAY

Pomora have kindly offered my UK readers the chance to win a shipment of 3 x 250 ml tins of flavoured extra virgin olive oil worth £39! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter entry form below!

TERMS & CONDITIONS

This giveaway is open to UK entries only. Entrants must be age 18 or over. The winner will need to respond within 28 days of being contacted; failure to do this may result in another winner being selected.

The prize is offered and provided by Pomora.  The prize is to win a shipment of 3 x 250 ml tins of flavoured extra virgin olive oil worth £39. There is no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable.

There is no entry fee and no purchase is necessary to enter this giveaway. The promoter (Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary) reserves the right to cancel or amend the giveaway and these terms and conditions without notice.

Entry into our giveaways will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.

If you need some help using Rafflecopter, here’s a quick clip to show you how. Rafflecopter will pick the winner at random from all the entries received.

Closing date is midnight (that’s 00:00 hours, 12 am on Sunday night/Monday morning) on Monday 22 October 2018 (GMT) and the winner will be announced shortly afterwards.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don’t forget to check out our other giveaways!

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Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary

Have you made this recipe?

Take a photo and tag @tangoraindrop or use the hashtag #elizabethskitchendiary and share on Instagram and Twitter. It would make my day to see your creations!

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This is not a paid post, although Pomora links are affiliate links, and if you click through them and adopt an olive tree we will 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, share recipe stories, and eat good food!

Category: 15 Minute Meals, Carbohydrates, Giveaways, Past Giveaways, Pasta, Recipe

About Elizabeth Atia

Daydream adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Calls Shetland home.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Suzanne

    October 24, 2018 at 8:26 pm

    Hi Elizabeth, I am really loving your blog. I recently listened to your interview with Sheila Dillon on The BBC Food Programme in her series on Shetland. It was really fascinating. I’m definitely visiting Shetland sometime. I am also a Canadian, originally from Toronto but lived in Halifax 1998-2004. I remember the Health Food Store that you worked at, as I would shop there occasionally. We’re in Ottawa now and enjoying this area too. Good luck with your blog…recipes and photos are amazing! (p.s. you don’t have to print all of this, I just wanted to say Hi) Suzanne

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      October 24, 2018 at 8:35 pm

      Aw thank you! Hi back! 😀 I bet I served you at the health foods shop at that time – I was the redhead! I left in March 1999.

      Reply
  2. Diana

    October 21, 2018 at 10:11 pm

    Sounds lovely 🙂

    Reply
  3. Lynne O'Connor

    October 21, 2018 at 9:22 pm

    What a great alternative when I’m out of fresh basil. I love quick pasta sauces like this one

    Reply
  4. Chirag Patel

    October 21, 2018 at 9:18 pm

    sounds lovely use as salad dressings

    Reply
  5. Joanne austin

    October 21, 2018 at 8:48 pm

    Dish sounds yummy. I would use the oil to make a Melanzane parmigiana

    Reply
  6. Jackie

    October 21, 2018 at 7:35 pm

    Sounds lovely

    Reply
  7. Debbie W

    October 21, 2018 at 3:35 pm

    Perfect. In fact so perfect I’m actually craving some now. Thanks for a great, easy recipe- ideal for me as I often try to over complicate things.

    Reply
  8. alisa moore

    October 21, 2018 at 2:48 pm

    The recipe sounds tasty but easy. I like the idea of the flavoured oil, would be good for dressings and drizzling over meals to serve

    Reply
  9. Angela Sandhu

    October 21, 2018 at 1:28 pm

    Sounds lovely-olive oil on my salads would be great

    Reply
  10. lorraine kirk

    October 21, 2018 at 9:14 am

    This recipe looks really simple and easy to do which makes it a good ‘go to’ meal after school. I have never cooked with infused oil but perhaps it’s time to give it a go.

    Reply
  11. Cathryn Crawshaw

    October 21, 2018 at 8:39 am

    sounds yummy would love to use it in some pasta dishes

    Reply
  12. shirley giles

    October 21, 2018 at 7:00 am

    Love the recipe! i would use this lovely oil for dressings, and pasta dishes

    Reply
  13. joanne casey

    October 21, 2018 at 6:41 am

    The recipe sounds fabulous! I’ve never tried flavoured oil before so I’d have to experiment! I’m sure it would be great with lots of pasta dishes and salads

    Reply
  14. kat macfarlane

    October 20, 2018 at 9:33 pm

    Recipe is great. I’d love to bake some delicious bread and dip it in the oil for maximum flavour.

    Reply
  15. Emma Davison

    October 20, 2018 at 9:02 pm

    Sounds nice. I’d use it to make pasta bake with tomatoes from the greenhouse.

    Reply
  16. amanda greensmith

    October 20, 2018 at 8:15 pm

    the dish looks really tasty i use olive oil a lot in cooking x

    Reply
  17. ellie spider

    October 19, 2018 at 10:47 pm

    I’ve used garlic and chili infused oil for home made crutons 🙂 I think it would be good for stir frys a wel

    Reply
  18. Louise A

    October 19, 2018 at 2:23 pm

    Although personally I am not a great pasta fan my husband loves it so I cook it regularly. The recipe looks delish and I haven’t tried a flavoured olive oil before so would be interested to give it a go.

    Reply
  19. ADEINNE TONNER

    October 19, 2018 at 2:13 pm

    I think this recipe sounds beautiful and i think i would use the oil in a simple pasta dish

    Reply
  20. Fiona Mallard

    October 19, 2018 at 1:42 pm

    I love this recipe, it’s so simple and sounds delicious! I’d use flavoured oils to add extra flavour to meals using those herbs

    Reply
  21. Sarah Lee

    October 19, 2018 at 12:56 pm

    It looks really good, i’d like to give it a try. I would use it with bread and balsamic vinegar

    Reply
  22. Kay Broomfield

    October 18, 2018 at 10:44 pm

    Sounds lovely and as I’m vegetarian I always like to expand my recipe repertoire. I’d definitely add the kalamata olives too!

    Reply
  23. susan hoggett

    October 18, 2018 at 4:45 pm

    the recipe sounds great and I love italian food so I’d use this in al my dishes

    Reply
  24. Iris

    October 17, 2018 at 1:52 pm

    Looks very delicious. I love flavoured oils in my salad dressings

    Reply
  25. Milly Youngman

    October 17, 2018 at 11:31 am

    I’d use it in a Pesto and Goat’s Cheese Linguine for an extra layer of taste!

    Reply
  26. melanie stirling

    October 16, 2018 at 1:10 am

    This looks really tasty. I would use it in all my pasta recipes and as a salad dressing.

    Reply
  27. Kelly Lee

    October 15, 2018 at 8:39 pm

    Looks yummy, quick and easy, my sort of food, plus the kifs love any sort of pasta dishes.

    Reply
  28. Emily Hutchinson

    October 15, 2018 at 3:36 pm

    It sounds delicious! I’d use it to add extra flavour to my salad dressings.

    Reply
  29. Andrea Upton

    October 13, 2018 at 8:19 pm

    This looks like a lovely recipe, I use Olive oil for lots of different recipes, from salad dressings to pasta and vegetarian cooking

    Reply
  30. Suzanne Jackson

    October 12, 2018 at 1:56 pm

    Recipe sounds yummy, would love to try it with the anchovies

    Reply
  31. Maxine G

    October 10, 2018 at 6:56 pm

    Basil oil is lovely dribbled over a pizza! Lovely idea for use in this pasta dish though, must try!

    Reply
  32. Steph

    October 10, 2018 at 3:34 pm

    This recipe looks fab, I think I would just use the oil on it’s own drizzled over fresh pasta!

    Reply
  33. leanne weir

    October 10, 2018 at 2:17 pm

    I would like to try this in pastries

    Reply
  34. Jamie Piper

    October 10, 2018 at 8:03 am

    I only find oils useful in the summer months, something about the humidity and temperature – in the winter months I revert to moisturisers

    Reply
  35. Rich Tyler

    October 9, 2018 at 2:43 pm

    Bet it would be amazing for dipping bread

    Reply
  36. Kris Griffin

    October 8, 2018 at 10:57 pm

    Looks really good

    Reply
  37. Kris Griffin

    October 8, 2018 at 10:38 pm

    Sounds nice and be something different to try for a change

    Reply
  38. Laura Banks

    October 8, 2018 at 7:56 pm

    we use alot of flavoured oils in our dressings for salads

    Reply
  39. Jen

    October 8, 2018 at 6:31 pm

    Pasta was one of those foods I was worried I wouldn’t be able to eat anymore as I was recently diagnosed with coeliacs – fortunately there is lots of gluten free pastas, though I still have to be careful with the sauces so making my own is much safer (and easier). As I’m having to cook a lot more from scratch now (no ready meals or frozen pizzas for me) I think infused olive oils sound like a great idea to add some subtle flavour to a simple dish.

    Reply
  40. olivia Kirby

    October 8, 2018 at 5:40 pm

    This looks really tasty and easy too. I use flavoured oil sometimes for roasting chicken (particularly lemon or basil)

    Reply
  41. Heather T

    October 8, 2018 at 3:51 pm

    I love pasta dishes, though I would add some protein to this recipe. I would use the oil to drizzle over roasted vegetables.

    Reply
  42. Helen Tovell

    October 8, 2018 at 2:18 pm

    The recipe sounds simple but tasty just like Italian food should be, I would use it to drizzle over a simple pizza

    Reply
  43. Emily Kerner

    October 8, 2018 at 12:55 pm

    The recipe sounds amazing, tomatoey pasta is one of my favourites! I love using olive oil simply drizzling over a caprese salad or just to dip bread in!

    Reply
  44. Karen R

    October 8, 2018 at 12:48 pm

    This sounds like a great recipe. My 17yo is very happy to make herself this kind of meal – I’m trying to train up up so she will cook at least a little while she’s at uni 🙂

    Reply
  45. Kathleen marsden

    October 8, 2018 at 1:25 am

    I eat a lot of pasta but have never tried flavoured oils. The chilli oil sounds fantastic and just up my street as I like heat in my pasta sauce.

    Reply
  46. Solange

    October 8, 2018 at 1:25 am

    I think this recipe looks amazing and I’d like to cook pasta with this flavoured olive oil.

    Reply
  47. David Nicolson

    October 7, 2018 at 11:52 pm

    Love the recipe – anything with tomato and pasta I enjoy but this goes one level above. Never cooked with flavoured oil before so I’d be interested to try it out and see how it compares to plain oil.

    Reply
  48. Lavinia

    October 7, 2018 at 11:44 pm

    I would cook some saltimbocca alla romana

    Reply
  49. Penny H

    October 7, 2018 at 11:16 pm

    It sounds great, nice and simple. I like to add some roasted peppers to a tomato sauce too and keep some in the fridge ready to add to some white fish.

    Reply
  50. K dunn

    October 7, 2018 at 10:46 pm

    Will def try this as I’m looking for quick recipes esp for kids! We love using garlic oil

    Reply
  51. Bob Clark

    October 7, 2018 at 10:06 pm

    Love the sound of this recipe

    Reply
  52. jenna rothen

    October 7, 2018 at 10:01 pm

    sounds so tasty

    Reply
  53. frances hopkins

    October 7, 2018 at 9:23 pm

    Id love to try and make it, think the kids would love it!! I love using the flavoured oils

    Reply
  54. Ritchie

    October 7, 2018 at 8:59 pm

    The recipe looks easy and tasty. I have never used a flavoured olive oil.

    Reply
  55. Craig Rogers

    October 7, 2018 at 8:50 pm

    This recipe sounds delicious and sooo easy. Can’t wait to give it a go.

    Reply
  56. Ms C Bryan

    October 7, 2018 at 8:45 pm

    I would add some chillis and veg to the recipe. I would have the olive oil with some bread

    Reply
  57. Tayla Courtice

    October 7, 2018 at 8:31 pm

    The basil infused oil looks amazing!

    Reply
  58. lesley white

    October 7, 2018 at 8:31 pm

    Sounds yummy, but best of all quick and easy

    Reply
  59. Emma Nixon

    October 7, 2018 at 7:57 pm

    The recipe looks simple but tasty. Never considered cooking with flavoured oil. But this has given me some ideas.

    Reply
  60. ValB

    October 7, 2018 at 7:38 pm

    I make something very similar with tinned tomatoes instead of passata. It is so easy and a hundred times better than bought sauce. The flavoured oils are a quick and easy way to add variety too

    Reply
  61. Becky John

    October 7, 2018 at 7:21 pm

    Recipe looks really simple and delicious. Would use the flavoured oils in dressings as well as cooking stir fry etc.

    Reply
  62. Maria P

    October 7, 2018 at 7:21 pm

    it is a simple recipe and good base for other pasta sauces – I always try to sneak in more veggies because of the children 🙂

    Reply
  63. Rena Plumridge

    October 7, 2018 at 7:15 pm

    They sound lovely I’d use on salad

    Reply
  64. nicola dean

    October 7, 2018 at 7:02 pm

    Love the sound of this recipe I’m going to try it. I love cooking with flavoured oils it makes the dish much tastier.

    Reply
  65. Birgit Gaiser

    October 7, 2018 at 6:55 pm

    Recipe looks really simple, great for a busy day. I’d love to use the flavoured oils, I can see me using them for baking (focaccia, breadsticks etc), not just cooking.

    Reply
  66. Heather Haigh

    October 7, 2018 at 6:42 pm

    Sounds delicious. I love to use flavoured oils in quick salad dressings and to drizzle over veggies for roasting.

    Reply
  67. Amy Bondoc

    October 7, 2018 at 6:41 pm

    This sounds really tasty i thinkthese oils would be yummy in salad dressings

    Reply
  68. Emma Page

    October 7, 2018 at 6:35 pm

    Love this easy recipe and flavoured oil would give it a perfect zing

    Reply
  69. Simon LC

    October 7, 2018 at 6:27 pm

    I would like to try this in the bread I make

    Reply
  70. Brenda

    October 7, 2018 at 6:05 pm

    Sounds absolutely delicious, its very similar to a meal we have often because it’s so quick and easy but super tasty! I wouldn’t mind trying the Basil olive oil in a pesto…

    Reply
  71. Bekki

    October 7, 2018 at 5:55 pm

    Love a good pasta recipe, I’ve never tried flavored oils before so would be great to test this out

    Reply
  72. Jo H

    October 7, 2018 at 5:53 pm

    This sounds really tasty. I like flavoured oils in salad dressings.

    Reply
  73. Suzy Sue

    October 7, 2018 at 5:34 pm

    It would definitely jazz up salad dressings and make eating my veg more appealing!

    Reply
  74. Suan Watts

    October 7, 2018 at 5:33 pm

    Sounds very tasty and easy to make

    Reply
  75. Karen Brookes

    October 7, 2018 at 5:24 pm

    I’m definitely going to try this. It sounds lovely and very simple. I like Basil and will look out for this infused oil

    Reply
  76. Ranita Reeves

    October 7, 2018 at 5:20 pm

    Beautifully simple recipe. I do something very similar but also add bits of chorizo for a hint of spice.

    Reply
  77. Andrew Petrie

    October 7, 2018 at 5:17 pm

    I’ve bookmarked this and will try it next week – that’s how impressed I am !

    Reply
  78. Jean Cassell

    October 7, 2018 at 5:10 pm

    I will be trying the recipe as it looks very appetising. Just now I’m doing lots of veggie stir fries with flavoured oils.

    Reply

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Adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Loves bikes. Calls Shetland home. Read More…

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