From Homemade Sauce to Gourmet: Pasta with “Tomato” Sauce

Preparation with homemade tomato sauce

Start by heating the oil in a large frying pan. Add the finely chopped onion (or the lightly crushed garlic clove) and let it gently soften until translucent, without letting it burn. Once soft, pour in the tomato passata and mix well. Add a pinch of salt and let the sauce simmer over low heat for about 15–20 minutes: it should reduce slightly and become smooth and velvety. At the end of cooking, remove the garlic if you used it and add a few leaves of fresh basil, torn by hand.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain it, reserving a ladleful of the cooking water, and transfer it directly to the pan with the sauce. Toss for one minute, adding a little cooking water if necessary to help everything blend together.

Serve immediately with more fresh basil and, if you like, a sprinkling of Parmesan.

Preparation with Tomato ready-made sauce from De Luca Family Food

If you want to save time while still maintaining the artisanal character of the dish, you can choose our ready-made Tomato sauce from the Spicial Sauces range. The sauce is made with tomato pulp, double tomato concentrate, onion, carrots, extra virgin olive oil, salt, sugar, 100% natural ingredients, and a touch of cumin, turmeric and ginger. It is gluten-free and contains no additives or preservatives, offering high quality and a unique aromatic profile.

The philosophy behind De Luca Family Food sauces is precisely this: starting with selected ingredients and enhancing them with natural spices that are carefully sourced, traceable and processed, creating a harmonious balance between Mediterranean flavours and more aromatic, spiced notes. Perfect for those who love experimenting without giving up tradition.

With a 210/220 g jar, you can dress 350–400 g of pasta, a generous quantity that is easily enough to serve 3 or 4 people.

The preparation is incredibly simple: just cook the pasta — preferably al dente — and, in the meantime, heat the sauce in a frying pan with a small ladleful of the pasta cooking water, just for a minute, to make it softer and creamier. As soon as the pasta is ready, drain it and toss it in the sauce over medium-high heat so that it absorbs the flavours perfectly. If desired, finish the dish with a sprinkling of Parmesan.

The result is surprisingly close to homemade sauce, but with an extra aromatic touch and zero effort. A perfect sauce for those who want to discover new and slightly spiced flavours without giving up convenience. You can buy it directly from our online shop!

Final tip

In both versions — with either fresh or ready-made sauce — the key step is always the same: toss the pasta well in the pan with the sauce. This is what brings the sauce and pasta together and transforms a simple dish into true comfort food. Enjoy your meal!