Spice up dinner time with this delicious pasta

Ready for some on-repeat dinner inspo? Uni life is busy but this arrabiata pasta will give you that mid-week fix without the fuss.

Ordered an Activity Pack on 1st October? Great, you'll already have this recipe and ingredients, so don't forget to tag us in your photos on Instagram @livunihalls.

If you didn't manage to get a pack this week, don't worry. We've got the recipe right here for you.

What you need to know first

This recipe takes just 20-30 minutes to make in total and can be shared between 4 people so makes for a nice flat night in meal!

Before you get going, check that the surfaces are clear and there's nothing on the hob that might burn or get in the way. Check your kitchen door is closed (since this is a fire door 🔥) and you're good to go!

Ingredients

• 6 tbsp olive oil or a good few sprays of cooking oil
• 2 red chillies, finely sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• handful basil leaves
• 600g/1lb 5oz tinned chopped tomatoes
• salt, to taste
• 400g/14oz penne pasta
• parmesan shavings (or similar vegetarian hard cheese), to serve

Method

1. Heat your oil up in a frying pan on a medium heat. Cook the chilli and garlic for around 1-2 minutes before adding your basil leaves. The leaves will wilt in the oil and release the flavours.
2. Once this has happened, remove the garlic, basil and chilli from the pan pop onto a plate on the side. Next, add the chopped tomatoes to the frying pan. It's time to open a window to ventilate the space. Let any steam/smoke out and let the fresh air in.
3. Put the garlic, basil and chilli back in the pan with the tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and allow to simmer gently for at least 10 minutes. You'll want to lower the heat at this stage and allow the sauce to thicken. Never leave your cooking unattended and be careful that it doesn't stick to the pan and burn.
4. While your sauce is cooking, add your pasta to a pan of boiling hot water and cook according to instructions.
5. Once cooked, drain the pasta and add your delicious tomato sauce to the top of it. Serve with shavings of parmesan or your choice of cheese!

Once you've finished cooking, be sure to wipe away the surfaces and clear up any spills or grease, ready for the next person to use.