This is yet another classic Italian dish, one of Max’s favourites. You can use any type and shape of pasta and if you are tired of its simplicity just add any vegetables you fancy: green beans or peas, spinach, fennel etc. You can make a main course (a classic Sardinian dish) from this recipe if you add good quality sausages (sliced into small pieces) and add them to your sauce between steps 2&3.

You need

• Sauce pan;
• Large pot;

Ingredients

• 10-15g basil leaves;
• 1/2 white onion;
• 1 clove garlic;
• 2 tbsp red wine;
• 1/2 bottle tomato passata;
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil;
• Sea salt and black pepper;
• 100-120g dry pasta;
• 15g grated Italian cheese;

Step by step

• Chop the basil leaves. Peel and finely slice the onion, crush the garlic.
• Put a saucepan on a medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the onion, then cook until soft and lightly golden (1-2 minutes).
• Stir in the garlic, add the tomato passata and wine.
• Season with salt and pepper, then continue cooking for around 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Some passata brands are a bit sour (although good one shouldn’t). If so add 1tsp of sugar to balance the taste.
• Add the chopped basil leaves, reduce the heat to low and leave simmering for a couple of minutes.
• Meanwhile fill a large pot with boiling water, add salt and bring back to the boil.
• Add the pasta and cook according to packet instructions. If you want your pasta to be al dente, reduce the time by one minute.
• When the pasta is done, drain in a colander over the sink and tip it back into the pot. Stir the sauce in.
• Serve with finely grated Parmesan cheese.

  Your shopping basket

• 25g pack of basil leaves – £0.82
• One bottle (680g) tomato passata – £1.55
• One 185g pack of Parmesan – £2.78
• One garlic – £0.50
• One onion – £0.50
• 500g pasta – £1.00
• Total basket £7.15 | Cost of ingredients (2 serving) £2.30 | Per serving £1.15