Penne Marinara
For a hot and spicy pasta sauce, add 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes when you add the marinara sauce. You can also add a minced jalapeño along with the onions and garlic.
INGREDIENTS | SERVES 4 TO 6
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (26-ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1½ cups water
- 2 cups penne pasta
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir for 6 minutes.
Add sauce and water; bring to a simmer.
Add pasta; cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring frequently, until pasta is tender. Add more water if the mixture starts to get dry.
When pasta is al dente, sprinkle with cheese and serve.
Cooking Pasta in Sauce
When you cook pasta in a sauce, the texture will be slightly less tender than pasta cooked in water. The pasta will also have more flavor than that cooked in water. And you don't have to boil a huge pot of water; that alone is worth the tiny bit of extra stirring.
