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While I was filming the forty part series for NDTV Goodtimes - all about making British and other European cuisines, I noticed that there were many types of pasta on sale in the shops indicating that cooking pasta has become a popular pastime. There are often commercial sauces on sale but encouraged the viewers to try their own version with a spicy twist. This is an Indian version of an arrabiatta style sauce served with pasta penne.

Serves 2-3

4 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 green finger chillies, chopped
3 garlic cloves, sliced
4 mushrooms, sliced
¼ tsp crushed black pepper
¼ tsp salt
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 tsp sugar
½ tsp mixed dried herbs or dried oregano
275g pasta penne
1 tbsp Parmesan or Cheddar cheese, grated (optional)

Preparation:

Heat a pan or a kadai and add the oil. Tip in the onion, chillies and garlic and fry for 5-7 minutes until the mixture is golden brown. Add the mushrooms, black pepper and salt and continue to fry for 2 minutes. Mix in the tomatoes and the sugar and reduce the mixture until it becomes quite thick. Finally throw in the mixed herbs or oregano and give it a good mix.

Set aside and cook the pasta in 200ml of boiling water. Drain and mix with the sauce. Finally, if using, sprinkle over the cheese and serve hot.

Heat a pan or a kadai and add the oil. Tip in the onion, chillies and garlic and fry for 5-7 minutes until the mixture is golden brown. Add the mushrooms, black pepper and salt and continue to fry for 2 minutes. Mix in the tomatoes and the sugar and reduce the mixture until it becomes quite thick. Finally throw in the mixed herbs or oregano and give it a good mix.

Set aside and cook the pasta in 200ml of boiling water. Drain and mix with the sauce. Finally, if using, sprinkle over the cheese and serve hot.