Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Pasta with sun-dried tomatoes is a Mediterranean dish with an intense and delicious flavor. Here is an Italian variation of this recipe:

Ingredients

• 320 grams of pasta (penne or spaghetti work well)
• 150 grams of sun-dried tomatoes in oil
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 chili pepper (optional, if you like it spicy)
• Extra virgin olive oil as needed
• Salt as needed
• A bunch of chopped fresh parsley
• 50 grams of capers (optional)
• 30 grams of pine nuts (optional)
• Pecorino or grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Preparation

1. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water following the package instructions for al dente cooking.
2. In the meantime, chop the sun-dried tomatoes (setting aside the preservation oil) and the garlic finely.
3. If you decide to use the chili pepper, clean it from the seeds and chop it.
4. In a pan, heat some of the sun-dried tomato oil and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and sauté the garlic and chili pepper until the garlic is lightly golden.
5. Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and capers to the pan and cook for about 2-3 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
6. If using pine nuts, lightly toast them in a separate pan without oil and then add them to the tomato sauce.
7. Drain the pasta al dente, reserving some of the cooking water.
8. Transfer the pasta into the pan with the sun-dried tomato sauce and mix well to combine all the ingredients. If you find the mixture too dry, add some of the reserved cooking water.
9. Once mixed, sprinkle with the chopped parsley.
10. Serve the pasta hot with a sprinkling of grated cheese if desired.

Curiosity

Pasta with sun-dried tomatoes is a quick and tasty classic. Sun-dried tomatoes are typical of the regions of southern Italy, where they are dried in the sun to preserve them.

For an even more Italian touch, you could include chopped Taggiasca or pitted black olives in the sauce for an even richer and more Mediterranean flavor.

Enjoy your meal!