3-minute pasta sauce

Pushed for time and need a super-quick meal with minimal effort? Try this smokey tomato and herb pasta sauce – ready in just 3 minutes! This is perfect for lunch or dinner, and is even a winner in packed lunch boxes, served hot or cold.

Feeds: 1 adult and 1 child

Cooking time: 5 minutes

• 125g (41/2oz) dried quick-cook penne
• large handful of frozen peas or broccoli, chopped into small florets
• 11/2 tbsp tomato purée (paste)
• 1 tsp garlic purée (paste), or 1 garlic clove, crushed
• ½ tsp mixed dried herbs
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 50g (13/4oz) grated cheddar or 1 heaped tbsp nutritional yeast*
• freshly ground black pepper
• a few basil leaves, to garnish (optional)

Bring a pan of water to the boil and add the pasta and peas or broccoli. Cook for 5 minutes or according to the pasta packet instructions.

Meanwhile, in a medium microwavable bowl, combine the tomato purée, garlic purée, grated cheese and a pinch of black pepper. Stir well.

Add 2 ladlefuls of the pasta cooking water – about 150ml (5fl oz) – and give it a good mix. If you have a microwave, give it a blast for 2 minutes, as this will give a silkier finish. However, you can skip this step if you don’t have one – it’ll still be yummy!

Once the pasta and veg are cooked, drain and stir through the sauce quickly while the pasta is still piping hot. Serve with an extra grating of cheese, and a few basil leaves, to garnish.

Top tip: Use nutritional yeast as a dairy-free substitute for cheese. Although it won’t melt like dairy cheese, it will add a savoury cheesy taste to your meal, as well as adding