Few things beat a warm bowl of pasta after a long day. It’s quick, comforting, and endlessly flexible — whatever you’ve got in the fridge can usually be turned into something good with a bit of pasta and a hot pan.
If you’re short on time, the trick is keeping a few pantry staples on hand: good olive oil, garlic, canned tomatoes, and a block of parmesan. With just those four things, you’re never more than 20 minutes away from a satisfying dinner.
A Few Quick Tips
Salt your pasta water generously — it should taste like the sea. This is where most of the seasoning in the final dish comes from.
Save a cup of pasta water before draining. That starchy water helps bind your sauce to the noodles and gives it a silky texture.
Don’t rinse your pasta after draining — rinsing washes away the starch that helps sauce stick.
A Simple Weeknight Formula
Cook your pasta. While it boils, sauté garlic in olive oil until fragrant, add a can of crushed tomatoes, and simmer for ten minutes. Toss the drained pasta into the sauce with a splash of the reserved pasta water, finish with parmesan and fresh basil, and dinner is done.
