Simple and Inexpensive Tomato Basil Pasta

Tomato basil pasta is a family recipe that I can remember my dad cooking often in our household. It is simple to make and even better it costs less than five dollars for an entire meal that feeds 6. This pasta is a repeat recipe we use when I am meal planning too – I hope you will try it out and let me know what you think!

Ingredients–

– salt for pasta water and seasoning
– 2 tablespoons of oil
– 2 cloves of garlic – finely chopped
-1 28 ounce can of crushed and stewed tomatoes
– 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
– 10 basil leaves (adjust to your liking)
– 1 pound bag of capellini pasta
– Parmesan (grated or shredded)

Start heating a salted pot of water on high to a boil for the pasta and a sauté pan with the oil on medium low. While the water and oil heat peel/chop the garlic. Once chopped throw the garlic in the heated oil and cook for around 5 minutes. Pour the stewed tomatoes and nutmeg into the oil/garlic and let simmer on the stove at low heat. Roll your basil leaves together and chop thin strips – set this aside. By this time your water should be boiling so throw in your capellini pasta. Be mindful that this pasta cooks very quickly, in about 3 minutes! While the pasta cooks throw a dash of salt into the sauce and continue until it is salty enough to your liking. After 3 minutes use a large fork to remove pasta into a dish (do not drain) and reserve some of the cooked and salted pasta water. When the pasta is plated spoon some of the pasta water on top to keep the pasta moist (enough to absorb into the pasta and not make it soupy). Then spoon the tomato sauce on top and garnish with basil. Parmesan can be sprinkled by preference. Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!