Comfort
Iftar Creamy Tomato Penne
When the azan sounds and the table needs to be ready fast, this creamy tomato penne delivers. A rich, gently spiced tomato cream sauce clings to every ridge of Cibo di Italia Penne Rigate — comforting, filling, and on the table in under 35 minutes. Perfect for feeding the whole family after a long fast.
Ingredients
- 400 g Cibo di Italia Penne Rigate
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 piece medium onion — finely diced
- 4 pieces garlic cloves — minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 400 g crushed tomatoes — one tin
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 150 ml cooking cream
- 1 tsp sugar
- to taste salt and black pepper
- 40 g parmesan or mature cheddar — finely grated, to serve
- 2 tbsp fresh basil or parsley — torn, to finish
Method
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Step 1. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a rolling boil — at least 4 litres for 400g of pasta.
10 min
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Step 2. Warm the olive oil in a wide saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and lightly golden — about 8 minutes.
8 min
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Step 3. Add the garlic, cumin, paprika and cinnamon. Stir for 1 minute until fragrant — the spices should bloom in the oil.
1 min
-
Step 4. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes to deepen the colour. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, add the sugar, and season generously with salt and pepper. Simmer over medium-low heat for 10 minutes.
10 min
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Step 5. Drop the penne into the boiling water and cook for 9–10 minutes, tasting at 8 minutes for al dente bite.
9 min
-
Step 6. Pour the cream into the tomato sauce, stir well, and keep the heat on low. Taste and adjust seasoning.
2 min
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Step 7. Reserve a large mugful of pasta water before draining. Add the drained penne to the sauce along with a good splash of pasta water. Toss vigorously for 1–2 minutes until the sauce coats every tube and has a glossy sheen.
2 min
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Step 8. Serve straight away in warm bowls. Scatter over the cheese and torn herbs. Offer extra cheese at the table.
Goes well with
Jallab — a chilled grape, rose water and pomegranate juice drink that is a classic iftar refresher.
A simple fattoush salad with crisp flatbread croutons and a lemony dressing to lighten the meal.
Chilled qatayef-spiced rice pudding — warm spices echo the pasta sauce and the cool texture is a welcome contrast after the heat of the dish.
Nutrition
Scaled to your servings
- 560kcalCalories28%
- 78gCarbohydrate30%
- 17gProtein34%
- 20gFat29%
The pasta we used
Cibo di Italia Penne Rigate
500g · Cooks in 9–11 minutes · Serves ~5
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