Welcome to my montly recipe feature. Along with ‘Five Favourite Finds‘, ‘My Top 10 Online Reads‘ and ‘What Little H Did‘, each month I share a personal recipe with you all. Some of the recipes are completely of my own creation whilst some are variations of a recipe I’ve found somewhere. Where the recipe falls into the latter bucket, I’ll be sure to make reference to the original and make clear any changes I’ve made. The meal for this month is: Tomato and olive spaghetti. Here’s how I did it!
Tomato and olive spaghetti
Earlier this year, Sam and I were watching a bit of a Rick Stein cookery show where he was going round Italy. He went for lunch with an Italian family who made an amazing looking simple pasta sauce. It was quite a dry sauce with minimal ingredients. When mixed with the spaghetti, the sauce just stuck to the pasta. Sam asked me to try and recreate so this was my attempt. It’s completely my own recipe but inspired by the Rick Stein show; The technique of removing the juice from the tomatoes is the one thing I did remember from the show! I’ve made this a few times now and whilst this time I’ve made it with olives, it work well with just tomatoes or with pre-baked aubergine.
Key facts
- Prep time: 10 mins
- Cooking time: 12 mins
- Family friendly*?: Yes
- Complexity: Low
- Cost: Low
- Serves: 2 adults
- Freezable: Yes but would be better fresh
*Refers to ingredients etc. Does not guarantee picky babies, toddlers or teens will actually eat it.
Ingredients
- 1 small onion sliced into quarter moons as finely as possible
- 300g cherry tomatoes
- 1 clove of finely chopped garlic
- 1 tsp dried basil or 1 handful of fresh basil chopped finely
- 10 black pitted olives cut into quarters
- 200g of spaghetti (or linguine)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- fresh parmesan
- salt / pepper to season
Method
- Chop the tomatoes into quarters then one handful at a time, squeeze out all of the seeds and juice to leave just the fleshy part. Set aside in a bowl;
- Boil a large pan full of lightly salted water and add the spaghetti. Leave to cook per instructions (but usually 10 – 12 mins);
- Heat the olive oil in a frying pan.
- Once the pan is hot, add the onion, stir and then turn the heat down to low;
- Cook the onion for 5 minutes (cooking it slowly makes it softer and sweeter);
- Turn the heat back up to medium then add the garlic and cook for a further 2 minutes;
- Add the tomatoes and basil, stirring into the onion and garlic;
- Leave the tomatoes cooking on medium heat for 5 minutes stirring occasionally. When stirring, use the back of the spoon to squash the tomatoes down and get out any extra liquid;
- With 2 minutes to go before the spaghetti is ready, add the olives into the tomato mixture to heat through;
- Try the sauce and season to taste / depending on whether little ‘uns are eating it;
- Drain the spaghetti and toss in the tomato sauce
- Serve with grated parmesan cheese!
How did it go down in Casa Watling?
So far I’ve only made this as an adult meal. But Sam is a massive fan and has enjoyed it on every occasion I’ve made it. He likes it because it’s such a fresh and uncomplicated meal. Little H is a big fan of tomato pasta so I will definitely try this for her at some point, but probably with an alternative toddler-friendly pasta…
42 comments On ‘Meal of the Month’ – Tomato and olive spaghetti – November 2016
This sounds an easy dish to make but I’d leave out the olives – they the one thing I really don’t like.
#fortheloveofBLOG
Yeh it works well without olives or with other vegetables! #fortheloveofBLOG
We love pasta and olives, it looks like it’s easy to do, definitely one to try out. #fortheloveofBLOG
It’s definitely nice and easy so I would really recommend it! Homemade pasta sauce is actually easier than people think and so much better than the shop bought ones. Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy it if you give it a try!
This looks nice. I like finding healthy and simple recipes that don’t contain meat! #KCACOLS
Lucy’s Locket recently posted…You are not your labels
Yes we eat a lot of veggie. Could add meat or fish if you liked, but it’s nice and filling for tea! Thanks for reading x
This sounds lovely and would be good with some prawns or chicken chucked in perhaps? Thanks for linking up to #marvmondays and for being a fab commenter!
Fran Back With a Bump recently posted…Marvellous Prize Winning Mondays
I think it would work really well with chicken or prawns. I don’t eat chicken and my husband doesn’t eat prawns so have never tried it. But I know I’d enjoy a few prawns in there! Thanks for reading x
Oh this looks and sounds very tasty! We all love Olives in this house too! #MarvMondays
Kat recently posted…Dream & Sparkle Linky #3
Definitely give it a go then! Thanks for reading x
Oh this sounds yummy! We are huge pasta fans in our house, and we love olives as well, so I am going to give this a go when we need a quick, simple dinner. #MarvMondays
Something About Baby recently posted…Getting Festive: A Christmas Cake Recipe and Arty Apple Review
Hope you enjoy it when you give it a try! Thanks for reading x
I’m not an olive fan, but we love tomato-based pasta dishes in our house. I think this would go down a treat! #MarvMondays
Lucy At Home recently posted…Am I A Bad Person For Being A Stay At Home Mum?
Hope you enjoy it if you try it. So easy and fresh. Try it once and you’ll see you can add what you like! Thanks for reading x
Such a beautiful and simple dish!
#marvmondays
kristin mccarthy recently posted…The Good About The Bad…Bad Moms That Is…
Thank you x
Looks like a dish my husband would love! Thanks for the recipe #marvmondays
Devon Mama recently posted…The Lust List: November Edit
Worth giving a try then. It’s super quick! Thanks for reading x
That looks so yummy! It’s a shame the OH refuses to eat anything other than meat and potatoes or we would make this a weekly meal 🙂 #MarvMondays
Amie recently posted…Parent & Toddler Parking Spaces
Haha, yes I know plenty of people who wouldn’t like this because it’s meat free! Bear it in mind for an easy meal if you are ever dining alone 🙂 thanks for reading x
Looks yum and super easy! I love pasta in any form haha #marvmondays
OddHogg recently posted…Menu Plan Monday – 21st November 2016
Looks good although not an olive fan! The tomato base would be great for my little who pretty much only eats pasta sauce! Thank you for linking to #fortheloveofblog
Karen | TwoTinyHands recently posted…Cereal Sensory Play Tuff Spot
Yes olives were just my addition on that occasion. It works with different veggies although they may need pre roasting depending on what they are. Your little one would love the Tomato base! Thanks for reading x
Looks yummy. My 15 month old loves olives. #marvmondays
He’ll like this then I think! Thanks for reading x
This sounds absolutely gorgeous! Both my kids love pasta, so I’m always on the look out for new ways to serve it – so we are going to try this during the week! #marvmondays
Cherry – The Newby Tribe recently posted…Wonderful Winter At Waddesdon Manor
How exciting! I hope you like it. It’s a really versatile base. Thanks for reading x
Always a fan of a quick dinner! Thanks for sharing 🙂 #familyfun
Josefine recently posted…A day in the Forest
This is def quick! x
This sounds delicious! I adore olives so this is perfect for me 🙂
Hope you like it if you give it a try?
Love the sound of this – I’ve never added olives when making spaghetti with tomato sauce but it sounds yummy 🙂
Louise (Little Hearts, Big Love) recently posted…Small acts of kindness: 35 ways to share a little love in the world
It’s really tasty and I love adding olives for a bit of a change. Works well with other veggies though. Next I want to try it with roasted and skinned pepper! Thanks for reading x
My daughter would love this. She loves pasta, tomato based sauces and olives. It would almost be mean for me not to make it for her! Thanks for sharing it with us at #familyfun
Well if you do, I hope she enjoys it. Be sure to let me know! Thanks for reading x
This looks like a simple but yummy recipe to try! #KCACOLS
It definitely is. Made it in 10 minutes the other night but with some tortellini. Thanks for reading x
This looks totally delicious. Will give it a go this week. #KCACOLS
Sharon recently posted…Bored teenagers – what I have learned
Thank you, I hope you enjoy it!
Oh yum! This sounds lovely and very simple. You really can’t go wrong with spaghetti! Thank you for linking with #kcacols
five little doves recently posted…The Book of Everyone – Review & Giveaway!
Yummy!! Love finding nice simple recipes like this #KCACOLS
Def nice and easy. Worth a try and adding different stuff in too! Thanks for popping by x
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About Me
Hello, I'm Angela. I'm Mum to two small people (4 & 1). I'm a Gardener, am houseplant obsessed and addicted to tea. By day I work in tech and also look after my littles. I'm trying to get our family to live a more sustainable life. I also have far too many opinions...hence the blog. You can read more about me here. You can also follow me on Twitter so you never miss a post. Hope you enjoy reading!
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