Yields1 Serving
Prep Time15 minsCook Time35 minsTotal Time50 mins

Ingredients

 1⁄2 a bunch of fresh basil
 1 medium onion
 2 cloves of garlic
 21⁄4 pounds ripe tomatoes or 2 x 14-ounce cans of
 whole peeled tomatoes
 olive oil
 1 tablespoon red wine or balsamic vinegar
 1 pound dried whole
 wheat spaghetti
 1⁄2 ounce Parmesan cheese
Equipment
 Cutting board
 Knife
 Optional: can opener
 Large saucepan
 Measuring spoons
 Wooden spoon
 Large pot
 Ladle
 Colander
 Tongs
 Fine grater

Directions

1

Pick the basil leaves (reserving a few baby leaves to garnish), then roughly chop the remaining leaves and finely chop the stalks.

2

Peel and thinly slice the onion and garlic. If using fresh, cut the tomatoes in half, then roughly chop them or open the cans of tomatoes.

3

Put a saucepan on a medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of oil and the onion, then cook for around 7 minutes, or until soft and lightly golden.

4

Stir in the garlic and basil stalks for a few minutes, then add the fresh or canned tomatoes and the vinegar. If using canned tomatoes, break them up with the back of a wooden spoon.

5

Season with a pinch of sea salt and black pepper, then continue cooking for around 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

6

Stir in the chopped basil leaves, then reduce to low and leave to tick away. Meanwhile...

7

Bring a large pot of salted water up to a boil, then add the spaghetti and cook following the package instructions – you want to cook your pasta until it is al dente. This translates as ‘to the tooth’ and means that it should be soft enough to eat, but still have a bit of a bite and firmness to it. Use the timings on the package instructions as a guide, but try some just before the time is up to make sure it’s perfectly cooked.

8

Once the pasta is done, ladle out and reserve a cup of the cooking water and keep it to one side, then drain in a colander or sieve over the sink.

9

Add a splash of pasta water to the sauce if it’s a bit thick. Tip in the spaghetti and use tongs to toss well, adding a splash of the pasta water to loosen, if needed.

10

Ingredients

 1⁄2 a bunch of fresh basil
 1 medium onion
 2 cloves of garlic
 21⁄4 pounds ripe tomatoes or 2 x 14-ounce cans of
 whole peeled tomatoes
 olive oil
 1 tablespoon red wine or balsamic vinegar
 1 pound dried whole
 wheat spaghetti
 1⁄2 ounce Parmesan cheese
Equipment
 Cutting board
 Knife
 Optional: can opener
 Large saucepan
 Measuring spoons
 Wooden spoon
 Large pot
 Ladle
 Colander
 Tongs
 Fine grater

Directions

1

Pick the basil leaves (reserving a few baby leaves to garnish), then roughly chop the remaining leaves and finely chop the stalks.

2

Peel and thinly slice the onion and garlic. If using fresh, cut the tomatoes in half, then roughly chop them or open the cans of tomatoes.

3

Put a saucepan on a medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of oil and the onion, then cook for around 7 minutes, or until soft and lightly golden.

4

Stir in the garlic and basil stalks for a few minutes, then add the fresh or canned tomatoes and the vinegar. If using canned tomatoes, break them up with the back of a wooden spoon.

5

Season with a pinch of sea salt and black pepper, then continue cooking for around 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

6

Stir in the chopped basil leaves, then reduce to low and leave to tick away. Meanwhile...

7

Bring a large pot of salted water up to a boil, then add the spaghetti and cook following the package instructions – you want to cook your pasta until it is al dente. This translates as ‘to the tooth’ and means that it should be soft enough to eat, but still have a bit of a bite and firmness to it. Use the timings on the package instructions as a guide, but try some just before the time is up to make sure it’s perfectly cooked.

8

Once the pasta is done, ladle out and reserve a cup of the cooking water and keep it to one side, then drain in a colander or sieve over the sink.

9

Add a splash of pasta water to the sauce if it’s a bit thick. Tip in the spaghetti and use tongs to toss well, adding a splash of the pasta water to loosen, if needed.

10

Jamie Oliver’s Classic Tomato Spaghetti