Spicy Garlic Pasta

Ingredients

• 2 oz pasta of choice (boiled, reserve some pasta water)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion (small, diced)
• 4.5 cloves garlic (chopped)
• 0.5 cup tomato puree
• 0.25 cup fresh cream
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 0.25 tsp garlic powder
• 0.5 tsp chilli flakes (plus more for topping)
• 0.25 tsp paprika
• 0.5 tsp oregano
• salt (to taste)
• 0.25 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded, for topping)
• parsley (for topping)

Steps

1. 1

   Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the diced small onion and 4-5 chopped garlic cloves. Sauté until the onions are translucent and the garlic is golden and fragrant.

2. 2

   Pour in 1/2 cup of tomato puree. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld and the puree to thicken slightly.

3. 3

   Add the spices to the pan: 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp chilli flakes, 1/4 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp oregano, and salt to taste. Stir well to incorporate.

4. 4

   Stir in 1/4 cup of fresh cream and a splash of reserved pasta water. Mix until a smooth, creamy sauce forms.

5. 5

   Add the pre-boiled pasta to the sauce. Toss thoroughly until every piece of pasta is well-coated in the spicy cream sauce.

6. 6

   Top the pasta with shredded mozzarella cheese, fresh parsley, and optionally more chilli flakes. Serve immediately while hot.

Notes

Ensure you reserve a bit of the water used to boil the pasta; the starch in the water helps the sauce emulsify and cling to the noodles.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• pasta
• spicy
• vegetarian
• quick meal
• dinner