Pasta with Tomato Sauce and Green Beans

Pasta with tomato sauce and green beans is a delicious first course that combines simple but genuine flavors. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients

• 320 grams of pasta (penne, spaghetti, or another shape of your choice)
• 500 grams of fresh green beans
• 400 grams of peeled tomatoes or tomato purée
• 1 small onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• Black olives (optional)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Fresh basil
• Grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Preparation

1. Clean the green beans by removing the ends and washing them under running water, then cut them into small pieces.
2. In a large pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil and sauté the finely chopped onion with the crushed garlic cloves. When the onion becomes translucent, add the green beans.
3. Cook the green beans for about 10 minutes, then add the previously crushed peeled tomatoes or tomato purée. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Let the sauce cook on medium-low heat for about 20 minutes, until the green beans are tender. If you like, you can enrich the sauce with sliced black olives.
5. Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until it reaches the desired doneness.
6. Drain the pasta and pour it into the pan with the green bean sauce, mixing well to combine the flavors.
7. Serve hot and, if desired, garnish with fresh basil leaves and a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese on top.

Curiosity

In Italy, it is quite common to find dishes combining pasta and legumes. Green beans in the sauce are a summery and Mediterranean variation that perfectly fits the schedule of those looking for a complete but light meal. In some Italian recipes, the green beans are also cooked together with the pasta and then seasoned with the sauce, in an even quicker and simpler version called “pasta risottata”.

Don’t forget to pair this dish with a light and fresh wine, such as an Italian white; it could be a Vermentino or a Pinot Grigio. Enjoy your meal!