Spicy Tomato Conserva Pasta

Italian · Year-round · 25 min · Serves 4 · By Eleanor March

When the conserva is this concentrated, you barely need to cook the sauce. A spoonful per portion, loosened with pasta water and finished with cheese, is dinner.

Ingredients

  • 400g rigatoni or paccheri
  • Sea salt for pasta water
  • 3 tablespoons Olio del Monte Castelvetrano oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 4 heaped tablespoons La Conserva di Nonna tomato conserva with chile
  • 60g grated pecorino Romano
  • A handful of torn basil

Method

  1. Bring a wide pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta one minute under.
  2. Meanwhile, warm the olive oil and garlic in a wide skillet over low heat until the garlic perfumes the oil. Discard the garlic.
  3. Add the conserva and a ladle of pasta water. Swirl into a glossy sauce.
  4. Drain the pasta and add to the pan with a splash more water. Toss vigorously over high heat for 90 seconds until the sauce clings.
  5. Off the heat, fold in the pecorino and basil. Plate, drizzle with more oil, and serve.