🍅 Fresh Pasta Recipe 2: Fresh Pasta with Classic Tomato Basil Sauce (Serves 5)

Cooking Your Fresh Pasta to Perfection - Italian Recipe Blog

🍝 Recipe 2: Cooking Your Fresh Pasta to Perfection

From preparing the sauce to beautiful plating

⏱️ Total Time: ~25 minutes 👨‍🍳 Difficulty: Easy 🍽️ Serves: 4

In this part, we'll walk you through how to turn your homemade pasta into a delicious meal — from preparing the sauce and boiling your pasta just right, to plating it beautifully for serving.

Let's dive into Part 2: Cooking Instructions, Sauce Prep & Final Presentation
Fresh pasta cooking in boiling water

🕒 Cooking Time

  • Sauce Preparation: 20 minutes
  • Cooking Fresh Pasta: 3–4 minutes
  • Total Time: ~25 minutes

🧄 Ingredients

For the Sauce:

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 800g canned whole peeled tomatoes (or 6–8 fresh ripe tomatoes, blanched and crushed)
  • 1 tsp sugar (to balance acidity)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional)
  • A handful of fresh basil leaves, torn
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste (optional, for deeper flavor)

For Cooking the Pasta:

  • 500g fresh pasta (from Part 1)
  • 4–5 liters of water
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (optional, to prevent sticking)

Optional Garnish:

  • Freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese
  • Fresh basil leaves
  • A drizzle of olive oil
Delicious plated pasta with tomato sauce and basil

🍳 Cooking Method

Step 1: Prepare the Sauce

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Add chopped garlic and sauté until fragrant, not browned.
  3. Add the crushed tomatoes (with juice), tomato paste, sugar, salt, pepper, and chili flakes.
  4. Simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
  5. Stir in fresh basil just before turning off the heat.

Step 2: Boil the Pasta

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt.
  2. Gently place in your fresh pasta. Stir to separate strands.
  3. Boil for 3–4 minutes or until al dente.
  4. Drain immediately and reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water.

Step 3: Combine Pasta & Sauce

  1. Add the drained pasta directly into the sauce pan.
  2. Toss gently to coat all noodles evenly.
  3. Add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.

Step 4: Plate & Serve

  1. Plate in warm bowls.
  2. Top with grated cheese, extra basil, or olive oil if desired.
  3. Serve immediately.

📦 Packaging for Ready-to-Heat Commercial Use

If offering pre-cooked pasta meals for retail or food delivery:

🔹 For Chilled or Frozen Meals:

  • Use microwave-safe meal prep containers with two compartments (one for pasta, one for sauce).
  • Let pasta and sauce cool separately before packing.
  • Include a small garnish packet (cheese, herbs) if possible.
  • Seal containers airtight using vacuum or heat-seal film.
  • Label with reheating instructions and storage info.
Label Example:
Fresh Cooked Italian Pasta with Tomato Basil Sauce
Keep refrigerated (0–4°C). Consume within 3 days.
🔁 To heat: Microwave for 2–3 minutes or until hot.
Ingredients: Fresh egg pasta, tomato sauce (tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, basil, salt)
Allergens: Wheat, Egg
Net Weight: 450g
Best Before: [Date]

🔢 Nutrition (per serving, approx.)

Nutrient Amount
Calories 380–420 kcal
Protein 12–15g
Carbohydrates 55–60g
Fats 12–14g
Fiber 4–5g
Sodium 500–600mg

💬 Final Thought

Crafting pasta from scratch, packaging it with care, and transforming it into a comforting Italian meal isn't just cooking — it's storytelling. Every bite carries the tradition, freshness, and warmth of your kitchen. Whether you're sharing with family, serving a customer, or building a food brand, quality always speaks loudest.

Buon appetito – may your pasta always be al dente and your customers always return.
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