I adore watching movies that feature fine dining. Even though most of the time people are not eating vegan dishes, I like the atmosphere and enthusiasm generated by the love of food. When it comes to pasta, one scene that stays with me is from the movie Eat, Pray, Love when Liz dines in Italy. She just sits in one of those open-air cafes, and tries to enjoy the pasta with the sauce, how I love her smile! She finally enjoys life and finds passion for it.

Some pasta dishes are really easy to make, this one is such an example. Arrabbiata in Pasta Arrabbiata, literally means “angry” in Italian. The dish got its name because this sauce contains chilli powder so it’s very hot. It’s probably one of the simplest pasta dishes to cook, easier than spaghetti with homemade tomato sauce. You only need garlic and tomatoes as the basic ingredients, and of course, the hot chilli powder as well. So cook one for yourself, and enjoy it in the bright sunshine. Maybe the chilli will ignite your passion; whatever it is.

Kitchen Gadgets: Saucepan

Ingredients

• 100g penne pasta (choose wholegrain for nutritional value)
• 2 medium ripe tomatoes
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ to 1 tsp chilli powder (depending on personal taste)
• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional)
• ½ tsp sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 stalk of cilantro or parsley to garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Remove the skin from the tomatoes and dice to cubes. Crush the garlic.
2. Cook the pasta according to direction on the package.
3. While boiling the pasta, heat a stainless steel pan for 1 minute, then add 1 tbsp olive oil, add the tomatoes and garlic, cook for 10 minutes. Add the chilli powder and mix well.
4. Put the pasta on a plate, then add the sauce. Season with nutritional yeast, sea salt and black pepper. Garnish with cilantro.