Healthy Body, Healthy Brain recipe: Pasta & tomato sauce

Tomato sauce & pasta

Ingredients:

·     2 garlic cloves, chopped finely

·     1 onion, finely chopped

·     2 x 400g tins chopped plum tomatoes

·     salt and freshly ground black pepper

·     1 tablespoon of oil or a few squirts of cooking spray

·     pasta of your choice

·     salt & pepper

Optional extras:

·     large bunch fresh basil, chopped

·     a red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped

·     grated cheese

·     chopped black olives

Equipment:

·         2 x saucepan

·         chopping board

·         knife

·         kettle

·         colander or sieve

1.    Peel and finely chop the onion.

2.    Peel and finely chop the garlic.

3.    Heat the oil in one pan over a low heat.

4.    When it is warm, add the onion and leave it to soften. Stir it gently to make sure it doesn’t stick.

5.    When the onion is soft, add the garlic and continue to stir gently. If you are using chilli, you can add this too.

6.    After 1-2 minutes, add the tomatoes and stir to mix them with the onion and garlic.

7.    Leave to simmer gently for 10- 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you are using basil or olives, add these now. Season with salt and pepper.

8.    While your sauce cooks, boil water in the kettle.

9.    Add the water to a clean pan and place it over a medium-high heat. Salt the water and then add your pasta.

10. Leave the pasta to cook for 8-12 minutes (depending on the type of pasta and how you prefer it cooked). Use a fork to test the pasta as it cooks- is it ready?

11. When your pasta is cooked, drain the pasta, and then serve in bowls topped with your tomato sauce. You can top with grated cheese if you’d like.