Sometimes life calls for celebration. In America, we tend to use food and beverage as a means for celebration. I can’t think of the last time I attended a birthday party, graduation, anniversary or holiday get-together that didn’t involve consuming a larger-than-normal amount of baked brie or white sangria.

Amidst so much celebrating and indulging sometimes we yearn for simplicity. When our weekends are packed with brunches and happy hours, chocolate cake and chips and guacamole, weeknights call for healthy, simple dinners.

Most of us know that pasta is answer to the quick, nutritious meal, especially if you prepare whole wheat pasta, some of which provide some of your daily fiber requirement and even omega-3s

What a lot of people don’t know is that you can make your own savory sauce in nearly the same amount of time it takes you to unscrew the top of a jar and pour it into a microwave-safe bowl. Unlike heavy cream sauces, tomato based sauces contain fiber and antioxidants without adding calories.

Arrabbiata literally translates to mean “angry” in Italian but despite it’s name, is quite pleasant to make and to eat. It only takes 15-20 minutes to simmer, unlike most sauces that take upwards of an hour.

Palates beware: arrabbiata sauce is defined by the addition of crushed red pepper or pureed hot peppers – so if you like a sauce with a bit of a kick, this is a good one to try.

Penne All’Arrabbiata

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup red wine
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 28-ounce can peeled and diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons chopped, fresh parsley

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic in oil for 5 minutes.

2. Stir in wine, sugar, basil, red pepper, tomato paste, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, black pepper and tomatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes.

3. Stir in parsley. Ladle over the hot cooked pasta of your choice.

Tagged as: arrabbiata sauce, penne arrabbiata, spicy pasta, tomato sauce