HOW TO SEASON PASTA RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Trim the spring onions, carrot and celery. Roughly chop all the vegetables, then blitz in the food processor with the chillies (stalks removed). Add the sausages, 1 heaped teaspoon of fennel seeds and 1 teaspoon of oregano. Keep pulsing until well mixed, then spoon this mixture into a large frying pan on a high heat with a lug of olive oil, breaking it up and stirring as you go. Keep checking on it and stirring while you get on with other jobs.
  2. Fill a large deep saucepan with boiling water. Season well then add the penne and cook according to packet instructions, with the lid askew.
  3. Crush 4 unpeeled cloves of garlic into the sausage mixture and stir in 4 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and the tinned tomatoes. Add a little of the starchy cooking water from the pasta to loosen if needed.
  4. Drain the pasta, reserving about a wineglass worth of the cooking water. Tip the pasta into the pan of sauce and give it a gentle stir, adding enough of the cooking water to bring it to a silky consistency. Taste, correct the seasoning, then tip into a large serving bowl and take straight to the table with the Parmesan for grating over. Scatter over a few basil leaves.

Steps:

• 1. Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic. Pick the basil leaves and finely chop the stalks. Trim and cut the aubergine into 2cm slices.
  2. Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a pan and sweat the onion, garlic and basil stalks for 7 minutes.
  3. Add the tomatoes, season well and bring to a steady simmer. Cook for about 20 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, fry the aubergine in the remaining oil until golden, then stir into the tomato sauce with most of the basil leaves.
  5. Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions, drain, then stir through the sauce.
  6. Divide between plates and crumble over some ricotta and scatter over the reserved basil leaves before serving.