Ingredients
Scale
Gathering the right ingredients is like setting the stage for a delightful culinary performance. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 300 grams of spaghetti or your preferred pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)
- 400 grams canned crushed tomatoes
- Salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- Parmesan cheese, grated, for serving
If you prefer a milder sauce, you can substitute the red chili powder with paprika. For a gluten-free option, use your favorite gluten-free pasta.
Instructions
Cooking this recipe is like painting on a canvas, each step adding flavor and texture to the final masterpiece. Here’s how you can recreate it:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, coriander powder, and red chili powder, cooking for another minute.
- Pour in the crushed tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and let the sauce simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once the sauce has thickened, add the cooked pasta, tossing to coat the noodles evenly.
- Remove from heat and stir in the fresh basil leaves.
- Serve hot, topped with grated Parmesan cheese.
Cooking is as much about intuition as it is about following instructions. Feel free to adjust the spices to suit your taste buds, just as my mother Elena taught me to do.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International
