PASTA SAUCE PACKET RECIPES

1. Preheat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF/gas 6. Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic. Place a large shallow pan over a medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of oil, the onion, garlic and chilli flakes (if using) and fry for 5 to 10 minutes, or until softened, stirring occasionally. Turn the heat up to high and pour in the chopped tomatoes. Tear the leaves from the basil stalks, keeping a few pretty ones aside for later, and stir them into the sauce. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, place a large pan of water on to boil. Once boiling, add a good pinch of salt followed by the pasta. Cook according to the packet instructions, draining just before it’s done – it’ll finish cooking in the oven.
3. Drain the tuna and stir through the sauce, making sure you don’t break it up too much. Season with a tiny pinch of salt and a generous pinch of black pepper. When the pasta is ready, drain and tip straight into the sauce. Toss and coat the pasta in the sauce, then transfer to an ovenproof baking dish (roughly 25cm x 30cm).
4. Coarsely grate the cheese and sprinkle over the pasta. Arrange the reserved basil leaves on top, then sprinkle lightly with black pepper. Drizzle lightly with oil, then place in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden and bubbling. Leave to stand for 5 minutes, then serve with a nice salad.

1. Halve, wash and finely slice the white part of the leek (save the green leafy part for making stock or soup). Halve, deseed and finely chop the chilli (if using), and peel and finely chop the garlic.
2. Place a large non-stick frying pan on a medium heat with ½ a tablespoon of olive oil. Add the chopped veg to the pan and cook for 5 minutes, or until softened, stirring regularly.
3. Scrunch in the tomatoes (or break them up with a wooden spoon). Quarter-fill the tin with water, swirl it around to pick up the last bits of tomato and pour it into the pan.
4. Drain and flake in the tuna, then add a pinch of black pepper and a tiny pinch of sea salt. Bring to the boil, then turn the heat down and leave to simmer, stirring regularly, while you cook your pasta.
5. Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water according to the packet instructions, then drain, reserving a mugful of the starchy cooking water.
6. Add the pasta to the sauce, pour in a little of the reserved pasta water to help the sauce stick, then stir well over the heat.
7. Use tongs to divide the pasta between your bowls. Pick and finely slice the basil leaves, then scatter over the top, and serve with a good grating of Parmesan cheese.

Mix together the smoked paprika, chilli, cumin, cayenne and garlic powder. Rub half into the chicken pieces. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large deep frying pan and cook the chicken for 5-6 minutes until golden all over and almost cooked. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packet. Drain well and set aside, reserving a little of the cooking water.

Heat the remaining oil in the pan and cook the onion along with the remaining spice mix for 3-4 minutes until tender. Season, then add the peppers and cook for another 3-4 minutes until just soft.

Add the chicken back to the pan along with the tomato puree. Cook for 2 minutes, then stir in the cooked pasta, salsa and sour cream. Heat through, and if the sauce needs loosening, add a little of the reserved pasta water until you reach a desired consistency. Sprinkle over the cheese to serve.

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.

1. Finely slice the bacon. Pick the mint leaves and discard the stalks. Finely grate the Parmesan. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and drop in the stock cube (if using). Stir until it’s dissolved, then add the mini shells and cook according to the packet instructions. Get a large frying pan over a medium heat and add a good lug of olive oil. Add the bacon to the pan, sprinkle a little pepper over and fry until golden and crisp.
2. Meanwhile, finely chop your mint leaves. As soon as the bacon is golden, add your frozen peas and give the pan a good shake. After a minute or so, add the crème fraîche and chopped mint to the bacon and peas. Drain the pasta in a colander over a large bowl, reserving some of the cooking water.
3. Add the pasta to the frying pan. Halve your lemon and squeeze the juice over the pasta. When it’s all bubbling away nicely, remove from the heat. The sauce should be creamy and delicious but if it’s too thick for you, add a splash of the reserved cooking water to thin it out a bit. Add the grated Parmesan and give the pan a shake to mix it in.
4. Divide your pasta between plates or bowls, or put it on the table in a large serving dish and let everyone help themselves. Lovely with a simply dressed green salad.