This Mafaldine Pasta in Tomato Sauce is full of sweet tomatoes, garlic, and fresh herbs. You are going to love this satisfying and delicious meal.
There is nothing better than a plate of hot pasta after a long day. It's comforting, filling, and full of flavor. This Mafaldine Pasta recipe is a simple dish that's really easy to make, but packs deliciousness in every bite. Made with fresh tomatoes and garlic, seasoned to perfection, this recipe is a winner.
I used mafaldine, which is a ribbon-shaped pasta, for my dish, but you can really use any type of noodle that you like, long or short. There's a lot of versatility in this recipe, so you can tweak it based on the ingredients you have on hand and to your personal preference. Let's talk about what you'll need for this Mafaldine Pasta in Tomato Sauce.
Video Tutorial
Main Ingredients
- Mafaldine Pasta. Or your favorite kind.
- Olive Oil.
- Tomatoes.
- Garlic.
- Salt.
- Pepper.
- Red Pepper Flakes.
- Parsley.
- Basil.
How to make Mafaldine Pasta in Tomato Sauce
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and generously season with salt. Add the pasta and cook, according to the package instructions. (Mafaldine usually cooks in 9 minutes).
2. To a large skillet, add the olive oil and tomatoes and cook for about 5-7 minutes over medium heat until the tomatoes soften nicely.
3. Now add the garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir, and cook for a few minutes.
4. Finally, add the parsley, basil, and cooked pasta to the sauce. Stir well and serve.
Helpful Tips & Tricks
- Salt the pasta water. Salting the water that the pasta is cooked in is best because it infuses the mafaldine with flavor better than salting it after it's cooked.
- Cook the pasta al dente. Cooking the pasta just enough but not too much is important because when it is added to the hot sauce, it will cook a little bit more.
- Chop the tomatoes finely. If the tomato pieces are too large, they won't reduce and soften as much and your sauce will lack some of the sweetness they release.
- Add the herbs last. We add the parsley and basil at the end so that their flavors don't cook off. This gives a stronger flavor to the dish.
Variations to this Recipe
- Add meat. Make this dish even more filling with the addition of Easy Sausage Meatballs, Chicken Meatballs, ground beef, or chopped sausage.
- Add vegetables. You can add vegetables to this Mafaldine Pasta in Tomato Sauce, such as mushrooms, onion, bell pepper, zucchini, spinach, or asparagus.
- Substitute other seasonings. You can make this with dried herbs like Italian seasoning, onion powder, or oregano.
- Make it a little spicier. If you like your pasta sauce on the spicy side, add some extra red pepper flakes or some cayenne pepper for a kick of heat.
How to Store and Reheat it
Store this Mafaldine Pasta in Tomato Sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.
What to Serve this Mafaldine Pasta in Tomato Sauce with
- Salad. Serve this pasta dish with a salad, like this Refreshing Cucumber Salad, Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad, Cabbage Salad with Corn, or Kale Salad with Quinoa.
- Soup. Enjoy this dish with a hot bowl of Hearty Mushroom Soup, Turkey Cabbage Soup, or Lentil and Kale Soup.
- Proteins. Pair it with some protein for a more filling meal, such as Salmon in Creamy Sauce, Spinach Stuffed Flounder, or Roasted Pepper Stuffed Chicken Breast.
- Bread. Serve this Mafaldine Pasta in Tomato Sauce with toasted Italian bread and butter. Or try it with this Potato Flatbread.
I hope you enjoy this delicious Mafaldine Pasta in Tomato Sauce as much as we do. It's so flavorful, satisfying, and comforting. The rich tomato sauce really makes the dish.
It's an easy recipe so it's great for busy weeknights and the leftovers make a great lunch the next day. It's also popular with kids as well as adults so it always gets rave reviews at the table. I love making this pasta dish and hope you do, too. Enjoy!
More tasty pasta recipes:
Mafaldine Pasta in Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 10 oz. mafaldine pasta or other kind
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 lbs. tomatoes, diced
- 4 medium garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp. sea salt or to taste
- ¼ tsp. pepper or to taste
- ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes or to taste
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and generously season with salt. Add the pasta and cook, according to the package instructions. (Mafaldine usually cooks in 9 minutes).
- To a large skillet, add the olive oil and tomatoes and cook for about 5-7 minutes over medium heat until the tomatoes soften nicely.
- Now add the garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir, and cook for a few minutes.
- Finally, add the parsley, basil, and cooked pasta to the sauce. Stir well and serve.
Notes
Helpful Tips & Tricks
- Salt the pasta water. Salting the water that the pasta is cooked in is best because it infuses the mafaldine with flavor better than salting it after it's cooked.
- Cook the pasta al dente. Cooking the pasta just enough but not too much is important because when it is added to the hot sauce, it will cook a little bit more.
- Chop the tomatoes finely. If the tomato pieces are too large, they won't reduce and soften as much and your sauce will lack some of the sweetness they release.
- Add the herbs last. We add the parsley and basil at the end so that their flavors don't cook off. This gives a stronger flavor to the dish.
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