Kenneth Glad
Fresh produce and a few familiar ingredients form the basis of an uncomplicated evening meal. The sauce simmers separately while the pasta cooks, bringing both parts together just before serving.
Fresh tomatoes are used instead of passata in a pasta recipe shared by TikTok creator mynonnafina, an account built around Italian dishes prepared by her grandmother. The method relies on cooking the tomatoes directly with garlic, olive oil and basil rather than starting with a ready-made tomato base.
According to Daily Express, she has more than 550,000 followers, while the video featuring this particular recipe has received more than 450,000 likes.
The grandmother stresses that the fresh preparation should not be treated as interchangeable with passata. She says: “This is a quick sauce for when you don’t have time.
“It’s not a passata, that’s different, they taste completely different.”
For the tomato mixture, the recipe calls for six tomatoes, two garlic cloves, three tablespoons of olive oil, basil, salt and pepper. Fresh chilli is optional for anyone who wants additional heat. Spaghetti is prepared separately, while grated cheese can be added when the dish is served.
The short cooking time means there is little need to prepare the components far in advance. Once the tomatoes have begun reducing, the pasta can cook alongside the sauce so that both are ready within the same general window.
Fresh tomatoes shape the sauce
Preparation starts by gently frying the garlic in olive oil until it turns golden. The sliced tomatoes then go into the pan and cook for about five minutes.
Stirring and pressing them as they soften helps the pieces break down into the sauce. Salt and pepper are added during cooking, with fresh chilli included at the same stage if desired.
Basil follows before a small amount of water is added to loosen the mixture. The pan then stays over a low flame for roughly 10 minutes while the spaghetti cooks separately until al dente.
Once the pasta is ready, it is transferred to the tomato sauce and tossed through the pan. If the mixture has become drier than preferred, some of the pasta water can be added until it reaches the desired consistency.
That final adjustment also means the amount of liquid does not have to be judged perfectly at the beginning. Cooks can check the texture after the spaghetti has been combined with the tomatoes and add only as much water as needed.
Grated cheese can be added before serving. The optional chilli also leaves room to change the character of the finished plate without altering the basic tomato, garlic and basil combination.
Sources: Daily Express, TikTok
