red sauce pasta recipe with step by step photos – delicious red sauce pasta in a red tangy tomato sauce with mix veggies. this red sauce pasta can also be made without veggies. i usually add vegetables to pasta as they give a good taste and also increase the nutrition factor. specially good for kids who like pasta but refuse to eat vegetables.
pasta is a favorite of kids as well as grown ups. so i do get recipe requests for various types of pasta. pasta in red sauce was also one of the recipe requests. usually i make pasta on occasions, but due to the recipe requests i will be adding more versions of pasta recipes. i have already shared few pasta recipes like:
this red sauce pasta recipe is too good and you will keep on having it. the sauce is made with fresh tomatoes, garlic and herbs. since tomato is one of the main ingredient, please use tomatoes which are ripe, red and less tangy.
i have used fresh basil leaves as the main herb. though you can add any herb or add your choice of herbs. the recipe is not an indian style pasta. the veggies also can be of your choice. if you want you can skip veggies also. just the tomato sauce and the pasta also tastes good.
preparing pasta takes time and it is not a quick fix recipe. if you want, you can make sauce a day before and refrigerate it. since i was preparing the recipe for the blog, i made the sauce as well as the pasta together. for the pasta, you can use semolina or whole wheat pasta. also you can use spaghetti, penne, fusilli, farfalle or shell pasta.
if you are making the red sauce pasta only for yourself or grown-ups, then you can add white or red wine in it. otherwise skip if making for kids. both mushrooms and capsicum are added in the recipe and i have sauteed them in the pasta sauce. if you do not use mushrooms or capsicum, then just prepare the tomato sauce. alternatively, you can even steam or saute mushrooms and capsicum separately.
preparation to make pasta in red sauce
1. firstly steam or cook 1 cup mix chopped veggies till they are cooked and tender. they should not be over cooked. you can steam or cook them in a pressure cooker for 1 whistle or steam in a steamer pan. for the veggies i have used a mix of cauliflower florets, carrots and potatoes. i have also added some sweet corn (⅓ cup). you can also add some green peas instead of sweet corn or a mix of both.
2. heat 2.5 cups water, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon oil in a pan till the water comes to a boil.
cooking pasta
3. then add 100 grams or 1 cup of the pasta.
4. on a medium to high flame cook till the pasta is cooked well.
5. then in a colander or strainer, strain the pasta.
6. keep aside.
making sauce for red sauce pasta
7. in a food chopper, food processor or in a mixer or blender, crush 2 large tomatoes (220 grams) to a puree. keep aside.
8. heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a pan or wok or kadai. add 1 small to medium tej patta and 4 small to medium garlic cloves (finely chopped). saute for some seconds till the raw aroma of garlic goes away. no need to brown the garlic.
9. add ⅓ cup finely chopped onions.
10. begin to saute the onions on a low to medium flame.
11. saute till the onions turn translucent.
12. then add tomato puree. if using ready store brought tomato puree, then add 1 cup tomato puree.
13. mix very well and begin to saute the mixture.
14. stir at intervals and saute till you see the oil leaving the sides and the sauce has thickened a bit. this means that the tomato puree has cooked.
15. then add 1.25 cups chopped mushrooms.
16. mix very well.
17. saute for 6 to 7 minutes on a low to medium flame.
18. next add ⅓ cup chopped capsicum. mix well.
19. saute the capsicum for 4 to 5 minutes on a low to medium flame. by now the capsicum will be half cooked and the mushrooms will be cooked.
20. add ½ teaspoon sugar or as required.
21. then add ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg powder and ¼ to ½ teaspoon black pepper powder.
22. next add salt as per taste. mix very well. if using white or red wine, then you can add at this stage. add 1 tablespoon white or red wine. instead of wine you can also add ½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar.
making red sauce pasta
23. add the steamed veggies and ⅓ cup steamed sweet corn kernels
24. then add the cooked pasta.
25. gently toss and mix everything very well, so that the red sauce coats the pasta as well as the veggies. at this step, you can also add some cream or grated cheese if you want.
26. lastly switch off the flame. add 1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil leaves. mix well.
27. serve red sauce pasta hot or warm or cold. this pasta tastes good even when served at room temperature. while serving you can garnish red sauce pasta with some grated cheese.
Red Sauce Pasta
INGREDIENTS
for cooking pasta
- 1 cup pasta macaroni OR 100 grams pasta
- 2.5 cups water
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon oil
veggies for red sauce pasta
- 1 cup mixed veggies
- ⅓ cup boiled steamed corn kernels
- 1.25 cups chopped white button mushrooms
- ⅓ cup chopped capsicum (green bell pepper)
other ingredients for red sauce pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (can use butter or any other oil instead of olive oil)
- 1 small to medium tej patta (indian bay leaf)
- 4 small to medium garlic cloves - finely chopped
- 60 grams onions OR 1 medium onion OR ⅓ cup finely chopped onion
- 220 grams tomatoes OR 2 large tomatoes OR 1 cup tomato puree
- ½ teaspoon sugar or add as required
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg powder
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon black pepper powder or add as required
- salt as required
- 1 tablespoon red wine or white wine (optional)
- 2 to 3 basil leaves - chopped
- ¼ cup grated cheese for garnish (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
cooking veggies
- firstly steam or cook 1 cup mix chopped veggies till they are cooked and tender. they should not be over cooked. you can steam or cook them in a pressure cooker for 1 whistle or steam in a steamer pan.
- for the veggies i have used a mix of cauliflower florets, carrots and potatoes. i have also added some sweet corn (⅓ cup). you can also add some green peas instead of sweet corn or a mix of both.
cooking pasta
- heat 2.5 cups water, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon oil in a pan till the water comes to a boil.
- then add 100 grams or 1 cup of the pasta.
- on a medium to high flame cook till the pasta is cooked well.
- then in a colander or strainer, strain the pasta and keep aside.
making sauce for red sauce pasta
- in a food chopper, food processor or in a mixer or blender, crush 2 large tomatoes (220 grams) to a puree. keep aside. no need to blanch the tomatoes.
- heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a pan or wok or kadai. add 1 small to medium tej patta and 4 small to medium garlic cloves (finely chopped). saute for some seconds till the raw aroma of garlic goes away. no need to brown the garlic.
- add ⅓ cup finely chopped onions and begin to saute the onions on a low to medium flame.
- saute till the onions turn translucent.
- then add tomato puree. if using ready store brought tomato puree, then add 1 cup tomato puree.
- mix very well and begin to saute the mixture.
- stir at intervals and saute till you see the oil leaving the sides and the sauce has thickened a bit. this means that the tomato puree has cooked.
- then add 1.25 cups chopped mushrooms.
- mix very well and saute for 6 to 7 minutes on a low to medium flame.
- next add ⅓ cup chopped capsicum. mix well.
- saute the capsicum for 4 to 5 minutes on a low to medium flame. by now the capsicum will be half cooked and the mushrooms will be cooked.
- add ½ teaspoon sugar or as required.
- then add ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg powder & ¼ to ½ teaspoon black pepper powder.
- next add salt as per taste. mix very well. if using white or red wine, then you can add at this stage. add 1 tablespoon white or red wine.
making red sauce pasta
- add the steamed veggies and ⅓ cup boiled sweet corn kernels.
- then add the cooked pasta.
- gently toss and mix everything very well, so that the red sauce coats the pasta as well as the veggies. at this step you can also add some grated cheese or cream and mix.
- lastly switch off the flame. add 1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil leaves. mix well.
- serve red sauce pasta hot or warm or cold. this pasta tastes good even when served at room temperature. you can garnish red sauce pasta with some grated cheese while serving.
NOTES
tips for making pasta in red sauce
- for the pasta, you can use semolina or whole wheat pasta.
- also you can use spaghetti, penne, fusilli, farfalle or shell pasta.
- add veggies of your choice or skip them if you want.
- fresh or dried herbs of your choice can be added.
- use dried basil, if you do not have fresh basil leaves.
- please use tomatoes which are ripe, red and less tangy.
i want to make pasta in oven, sauce i will make on gas. but I just want big onions pieCe , olive small piece and corn to be cooked in sauce with pasta in oven please help me
just mix the cooked pasta with the sauce. chop onions in large pieces and sauté in oil. when the you add cooked pasta, that time add steamed corn or canned corn and chopped olives. mix and then take everything in a baking bowl or pan. bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees celsius for 15 to 20 minutes.
Very good recipe. Was so relieved when even my kids enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing 😊
Welcome Sweta. Glad to know this.
plz suggst any red or white wine which we can use in dis pasta recipe…
tanu, you can use dry white wine like sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio. you can also use sherry or marsala wine. for red wine i use cabernet sauvignon. last time when i had purchased white wine, i asked the shop folks to give me wine which can be used for baking as well as cooking. they gave me a brand but i do not remember the name now. if you are not comfortable buying wine from the shops, then someone else from your family can go and ask for wine which can be used in cooking or baking.
Hi….was waiting terribly for this dish….too good…too simple….thanks a million for your efforts…
thanks a lot mrunal. do try the pasta recipe.
Mouth watering dish recipe. Thanks a lot for the recipe. I will definitely give it a try although i had never ever made any pasta dish; even though i love to eat pasta.
thank you swati. do give a try.