Doesn’t a big bowl of pasta just fill you up with happiness for dinner? How about we add a touch of spice with some crushed tomatoes? Magic, right?
That’s how I feel about this recipe, it’s absolutely magical. I think most times when we think of tomato sauce it doesn’t have that kick to it, but this Spicy Italian Crushed Tomato Sauce definitely has some spice. It’s not overly spicy, but there’s enough that gives it a extra zip zap taste. Also, can we talk about the aroma that that this sauce has? It’s delicious. If you give this sauce a shot, just watch your kitchen start to fill up with people asking when dinner is ready. Tell them them a few more minutes and kick them out of your kitchen. Then take a few big spoonfuls of this sauce first.
Speaking of tomatoes… our tomatoes have adjusted from their transplanting period and are now firm in their containers. I love seeing them start to add a few inches of height and turn a nice green color. Expect a big garden update post at the end of this week! The other fresh star of this recipe is the basil. I was able to throw in a big bunch of basil chopped up in this sauce and it was a perfect fit (not to mention the smell was amazing!). Don’t you just love fresh basil? Mmmm!
You can totally use whatever pasta you want to use. This was one of those nights where I threw a bunch of quarter filled boxes together for a pasta mix!
Now go on and have a great pasta dinner tonight.. enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes or fresh crushed tomatoes
- 1 8 oz can of tomato sauce
- 1 bunch of fresh basil chopped up
- 1 small bell pepper chopped up
- 1 12 ounce package dried pasta of choice
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add garlic and saute for 2 minutes.
- Add red pepper flakes and saute for 1 minute.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil and pepper.
- Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring a few times.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your pasta of choice and cook as instructed on box. Drain.
- Add pasta sauce to pasta and stir.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
Ilan says
A few things:
1) Your photo of basil is unbelievably pretty.
2) I am now very, very hungry.
Love it!
Erren says
Wow, this looks so good! Now I’m starving!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
I made a batch last week, but with parsley. Have to make another batch with basil.
Anna Johnston says
Such a great quick & easy dish, big fan of spiced tomato sauce with fresh basil, have been known to eat that alone and skip the pasta all together. 🙂
Chantal says
I love your Italian crushed tomato sauce, it is so yummy, a perfect combination with pastas!
The basil imparts a lot of flavor!
Thank you for sharing
Chantal
Samina | The Cupcake Confession says
Oooppps!!! Caught myself drooling! And who wouldn’t! Oh my! that tomato sauce with the fresh basil!!!!! I’m pretty sure I’m going to be using this for a lot more than just pasta! *-* 😀
Tahnycooks says
Pasta makes everything better! I love the 2 different pastas! And this sauce recipe is so easy it looks so tasty! Great recipe!
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts says
Magical is right 🙂 This looks like fresh, beautiful, flavour-packed food at its best. Delicious!
Maryea {happy healthy mama} says
Oh fresh basil is my favorite. And my husband would so appreciate the kick to this sauce. Gonna have to add this one to my list of recipes to try. 🙂
Monica says
I do love the smell of fresh basil. I’ve taken the “giant” step of tending for a couple of small herb plants (actually, my fellas did it for me for Mother’s Day) and I am starting to understand the love of gardening. : )
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living says
Love the kick of hot pepper and red peppers!
Choc Chip Uru says
This sauce looks unbelievably delicious, what a gorgeous recipe 😀
I can smell it from here!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Your pasta sauce looks seriously unbelievable!!
cheri says
Hi Pamela, your sauce looks wonderful, love that you use different kinds of pasta together.
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
Oh, yeah! Fresh tomatoes and basil creates the perfect tomato sauce! Can’t wait for your garden update.
Mary Frances says
There’s nothing quite like the smell of fresh basil and cooking tomatoes, it’s heavenly!
Norma Chang says
You are so much warmer in Brooklyn than where I am in the Hudson Valley. I still have to bring my tomato plants into the garage at night but should be able to plant them into the garden by the end of the month.
Good looking sauce and pasta dish.
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
Perfect in its simplicity! Basil is my favourite herb and tomatoes are one of my favourite foods, so give me a bowl of this sauce over some pasta and I’m in heaven. 🙂
Katie (The Muffin Myth) says
Mmmm, that tomato basil combo looks awesome! We just planted our balcony garden last week and I’m hoping we get lots of little tomatoes this year. Some basil is out there too. Perfect for a dish like this!
Sophia @ NY Foodgasm says
Looks delicious!!! mmmmmm!
Barbara says
Love the photo with the fresh basil! Nothing better for a spaghetti sauce. Like the kick in it too. Fun to use different kinds of pasta, also,a great way to use up leftover pastas.
Your sauce looks marvelous!
Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg says
Pasta and happiness go hand in hand. This sauce is making me happy right now.
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
Yes, a big bowl or even a little bowl of pasta for any meal including breakfast
brings happiness into my life. Fresh tomato sauce—-what a treat!
Suzanne says
Yummy Pamela, can’t wait for the fresh tomatoes to make sauce. Love it spicy!
Ashley says
Mmm I love tomato sauce with a bit of kick! This looks awesome – we are huge fans of pasta for dinner!
Catherine says
There really is nothing like a good plate of macaroni and a good sauce!!
Blessings, Catherine
Emma @ Fork and Good says
Major drool. I love a good tomato sauce 🙂 I really want to eat some of that pasta…
Jamie | Jamie's Recipes says
DELICIOUS! I love all the gorgeous basil swimming in the sauce. Basil is one of my favorite scents –I’d totally wear basil perfume and in the summer I may or may not rub basil leaves on my wrists 🙂
Pamela says
You’re funny Jamie! Last year I wanted a tomato fragrance… I think we have a vegetable and herb perfume business starting between us!
Sophie says
A simple yet very appetizing home-made tomato sauce,..yum yum yumm with home grown basil: double yum! 😉
ela@GrayApron says
Ah! I made some today too. Next time, I need to get me some basil and those pepper flakes for that extra kick, like you did!
ela