Easy Pasta Recipe That Will Impress Anyone

This 5 minute pasta recipe needs no fancy equipment, involves minimal steps, and requires zero chopping. The only catch is you need to move fast. The result will prove that even with just a few ingredients and hardly any effort you can achieve maximum flavors that truly hit the spot.

The inspiration for this recipe comes from the filling of Puglia’s famous panzerotti. If you aren’t familiar with them, they are shaped like calzone, fried and stuffed with tomato, mozzarella, olives, capers, and pecorino. I really wanted to bring that same Mediterranean flavor to a pasta dish and it worked remarkably.

I used fresh egg linguine for this easy pasta recipe because it’s the best pasta to use as it cooks in just two to three minutes. Spaghetti or angel hair are great options too. And if you feel like going the extra mile, try making the pasta from scratch. It’s easier than you think, and the flavor is worth it.

Watch this Easy Pasta Recipe

This lazy pasta recipe is so easy you can make it in 5 minutes

Vincenzo’s Plate Tips to Make
Easy Pasta Recipe

Peeled Tomatoes, always

Peeled tomatoes bring the best flavor and texture. If you can’t find them, canned cherry tomatoes work too. I don’t recommend passata, diced tomatoes, or tomato paste for this easy pasta recipe as it can make it too watery or flat.

To olive or not?

I used Sicilian olives because I love their rich, slightly sweet flavor. But any variety of olives you have on hand will do. If you’re not a fan, you can also leave them out or add extra capers.

Caper Your Way

Capers also add a wonderful briny kick, and as always how much you use is totally up to you. Just make sure to give them a good rinse to tone down the saltiness.

Prefer Onion?

You can swap in onion if you want a mellow sweetness instead of garlic. Just remember, onions need about 10 minutes to cook properly so they soften and blend into the sauce. Dice them finely until they soften completely.

How to serve

This pasta comes together in minutes, but take a moment to serve it with care. Twirl the pasta onto a flat plate so it looks as good as it tastes, than spoon over plenty of the rich sauce, making sure you get a good mix of olives and capers. Garnish it with fresh basil leaves and a generous sprinkle of pecorino, still keeping it simple but with an aim to impress.

Easy Pasta Recipe

Print Recipe

This easy pasta recipe proves that quick doesn’t have to mean boring. Once your silky pasta is cooked perfectly al dente, it's then coated in a rustic, saucy mix of juicy tomatoes, briny olives, and just the right hint of capers. This light dinner recipe is on the table in 5 minutes and full of satisfying goodness the whole family will love. It’s budget-friendly, made with Italian pantry staples, and sure to become one of your new weekly meals on rotation. This is comfort food at its easiest and most delicious.

Prep Time: 0 minutes mins

Cook Time: 5 minutes mins

Servings: 2

Equipment

• ▢
  Large-sized pot
• ▢
  Medium sized pan
• ▢
  Ladle
• ▢
  Potato masher (optional)
• ▢
  Mug
• ▢
  Tongs
• ▢
  Colander

Ingredients

• ▢ 400 g/14.1oz Fresh egg linguine pasta
• ▢ 2 garlic cloves, 1 per person, crushed
• ▢ 400 g/ 14.1oz peeled tomatoes
• ▢ 1 dozen Sicilian olives, or a handful, no need to measure!
• ▢ 1 tbsp capers
• ▢ A fresh bunch of basil
• ▢ Extra Virgin Olive Oil, EVOO
• ▢ Salt & Pepper

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Instructions

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil then add 1 tablespoon of sea salt and allow it to dissolve. Drop in the pasta and cook for 2 minutes or until al dente, making sure to collect a mug of pasta water before you discard it!
• In a medium pan over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of water and 4 to 5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Add the grated or crushed garlic and cook for 30 seconds, or until it starts to turn golden and fragrant.
• Using your hands, gently crush the peeled tomatoes before adding them to the pan. Then use a potato masher to break them down further to help the sauce come together.
• Add the capers and olives, then let everything cook for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to your preference and mix through. Add a splash of pasta water and stir quickly then transfer the cooked pasta straight into the pan with the sauce. Toss together well while adding more pasta water as needed.
• Tear fresh basil leaves by hand and add them to the pan then give it one final toss, adding a little more pasta water if needed to thicken the sauce and create the right amount of creaminess.

Video

E ora si mangia, Vincenzo’s Plate….Enjoy!

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