Spaghetti in Homemade Tomato sauce with Herbs and Basil

I love Spaghetti..its one of the Comfort Foods I crave for and am most passionate about it in the Pasta line.There is something so much slurpy,comforting and warm about the shape of this pasta which forces me to make more of the thing.I recently cooked up a sauce with is infinite times better  than store bought ones!Make it with Fresh Tomatoes and add a special touch to the dish!

Preparation Time – 30 minutes

Makes – 3-4 servings

INGREDIENTS

1 Standard Packet(200 gms) Spaghetti(cooked till al dente – see instructions on Pack)

2 tsp Salt

1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Cheese Shavings to decorate(Parmesan/Mozzarella/Emmental/Camembert/Brie)-your choice – I used Emmental!

For the Sauce:

4 Fresh big tomatoes

2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

3-4 Garlic Cloves – finely chopped(optional)

2 tsp Sea Salt(preferable)

2 tsp pepper

2 tbsp dried Basil leaves or 5-6 Fresh Basil leaves torn

METHOD

Preparing the Spaghetti:

Boil the Spaghetti as instructed in its pack till al dente.Take 1/4 cup of the Spaghetti water and empty the boiled Spaghetti into a Colander.Drizzle 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil on the Spaghetti and toss well to coat.This prevents the strands from sticking onto each other.Keep aside to cool.

Make the Sauce:

Boil Tomatoes in 4 cups of water till the skin starts coming off them.Blanch in cold water and peel of skins.Puree in a blender or mash well with the back of a ladle till pureed.

Heat  2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a pan and add the chopped Garlic(if using).Let it fry and when it browns slightly add the basil leaves – fresh or dried and the Tomato Puree.Cook on medium heat for 5 minutes and add salt and pepper.Check the seasoning here.Add the Spaghetti water and continue to cook till it is smooth and perfectly seasoned – approx 5-7 minutes.Force through a strainer into a separate pan and reserve the tomato paste to be used in Curries of your choice.

Assembling the Pasta:

To the strained sauce in the pan,add the Spaghetti and toss to coat evenly.Some Pasta Seasoning(available readily in Supermarkets) can be added here.

Take some of the prepared Spaghetti on a plate and arrange slices of Cheese shavings on top.Serve hot!