Food & Drinks

Indi’s Favourite Pasta Sauce with Daen Lia

It’s back-to-school season, and the juggle is real – packed lunches, school drop-offs, and the nightly ‘what’s for dinner?’ dash. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

Our fave foodie Daen Lia and her superstar mini chef, Indi, are here to share a dinner winner that’s as easy as A-B-C! Indi’s Favourite Pasta Sauce is a super simple, crowd-pleasing recipe that’s quick to whip up, totally delish, and guaranteed to keep the whole fam happy (and those tummies full).

Perfect for midweek dinner madness or a fun weekend cook-up with your tiny sous chefs. Ready, set, stir!


 

Ingredients (Serves: 10) 

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil 

4 garlic cloves, peeled but whole 

1 onion, peeled and halved 

2 x 400g cans diced tomatoes 

1 parmesan rind (optional) 

1 bunch of basil (2 oz/55 g), leaves picked 

½ tablespoon brown sugar (optional) 

50g parmesan, grated Sea salt flakes Freshly ground black pepper 

500g pasta of your choice 



Method

1. Place the olive oil, garlic, and onion in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 2–3 minutes, until the garlic is turning a very light golden color. 

2. Add the canned tomatoes, parmesan rind (if using), three-quarters of the basil leaves, the brown sugar (if using), and a generous amount of salt and pepper. Stir until well combined and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, turn the heat to low and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

3. Using a slotted spoon, scoop out the garlic cloves, parmesan rind, and onion and discard. Alternatively, you can mash the garlic cloves up with the back of a large knife and stir through the sauce. While the sauce cooks, bring a large pot of heavily salted water to the boil. 

4. Drain the pasta 2 minutes before the suggested cooking time on the pasta packet. Reserve up to 1 cup of pasta water before draining. Toss the pasta through the sauce with a splash of pasta water and the grated parmesan until you have a smooth and glossy texture. Serve with some extra cheese and basil leaves scattered on top.



Want to see this recipe in action? You can find a bunch of delicious things on Daen Lia’s Instagram. (Warning: Scrolling Daen’s Instagram will result in serious Food Envy.)