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Home » Main course

Pasta napolitana

Published: Apr 20, 2023 by Vandana Chauhan. This post may contain affiliate links.

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Pasta napolitana is a simple and light pasta dish from Italy. This popular meat-free Italian dish is made with a handful of basic ingredients but is very flavorful and delicious. It gets ready in just 30 minutes and is a great option for a weeknight dinner.

Spaghetti napoli lifted with a fork over a plate of spaghetti and cherry tomatoes.

A tasty dish doesn't need to have an elaborate and complicated recipe. This delicious pasta napolitana recipe from Italy is a proof of that.

It's made with some very basic ingredients which are easily available almost everywhere in the world. But, the final dish that gets created with those ingredients is delicious.

If you are looking for a simple and easy meat-free dinner recipe that can be enjoyed with the whole family, spaghetti napolitana is a good option.

It's generally served with some grated parmesan cheese on top, however since parmesan cheese is not vegetarian, vegans and vegetarians may skip adding it. Pasta napolitana tasted equally good without the cheese too.

Jump to:
  • What's needed to make pasta napolitana?
  • Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions
  • How to make (step by step instructions)?
  • How to serve?
  • Storing and freezing tips
  • How to reheat?
  • Recipe tips and tricks
  • Frequently asked questions
  • More easy pasta recipes
  • Recipe

What's needed to make pasta napolitana?

To make napolitana pasta, you will need the ingredients shown below:

Ingredients required for pasta napolitana recipe, labeled.

Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions

  • Pasta: Spaghetti is the best choice for this recipe but you can make it using any other pasta too.
  • Onion: Preferably brown onion.
  • Italian seasoning blend: If you don't have the blend, mix different dried Italian seasonings that you like and use that. Some of the Italian seasonings that you can use in this recipe are oregano, basil, thyme, parsley, marjoram, chili flakes, and garlic powder.
  • Canned cherry tomatoes: If you can't find canned cherry tomatoes, use canned crushed or diced tomatoes.
  • Fresh herb: I have added parsley, you can also add fresh basil.
  • Tomato paste: It adds a rich flavor of tomato to the sauce.

How to make (step by step instructions)?

Collage of images of steps 1 to 4 of pasta napolitana recipe.

Step 1: Cook pasta al dente as per the instructions given on it's packet.

Step 2: Just before straining the pasta, reserve some pasta water.

Step 3: Heat olive oil in a pan. Add chopped onion and cook until it becomes translucent.

Step 4: Add minced garlic and cook for a minute i.e. until it's raw smell goes away.

Collage of images of steps 5 to 8 of pasta napolitana recipe.

Step 5: Add tomato paste and saute for a minute.

Step 6: Add canned cherry tomatoes.

Step 7: Add salt, pepper, and Italian seasonings blend.

Step 8: If the sauce is too thick, add the reserved pasta water to the sauce.

Collage of images of steps 9 to 12 of pasta napolitana recipe.

Step 9: Cook the sauce for around 10 minutes.

Step 10: Add cooked pasta.

Step 11: Gently toss until the pasta sauce evenly coats the noodle strands.

Step 12: Garnish with fresh parsley. If you are not a vegan or vegetarian, you may add grated parmesan too.

Your delicious simple Italian spaghetti napoletana is ready to be enjoyed.

Pasta napolitana in a black bowl garnished with chopped parsley.

How to serve?

Pasta napolitana can be served with toasted garlic bread, cheese toast, cheese sticks, a refreshing salad, or a bowl of soup.

Storing and freezing tips

To store, transfer the pasta to an airtight container and refrigerate for 2-3 days.

It also freezes well. You can freeze it for up to 3 months in freezer-safe containers or zip-lock bags.

How to reheat?

The easiest way to reheat pasta is in the microwave, for that just transfer pasta to a microwave-safe container and microwave it for around 2 minutes. Take out the container, stir, and microwave again until evenly heated.

If the pasta is frozen, make sure to thaw it first before reheating.

However, if you don't have a microwave, transfer the thawed pasta to a cooking pot with a lid. Add a splash of water and tightly cover the pot with a lid. Put on the stovetop and reheat on a low flame for a few minutes i.e. until it's nicely heated.

Do check 2-3 times in between and stir to make sure that the pasta is not sticking to the bottom of the pot. If required add more water.

Recipe tips and tricks

  • Cook pasta al dente, overcooked pasta will spoil the dish.
  • Instead of using canned cherry tomatoes, you can also use canned crushed or diced tomatoes.
  • To reserve the pasta, collect it just before draining the pasta. If you collect the water too early, it won't be starchy enough.
  • If you are not a vegan or vegetarian, you may add some grated parmesan to pasta napolitana before serving. In case you are a vegetarian and didn't know, parmesan cheese is not a vegetarian ingredient.
  • Use a large cooking pot or pan to make this dish so that it becomes easy to mix the pasta and sauce.

Frequently asked questions

Can pasta napoletana be made with any other variety of pasta too?

Yes, you can make it using another type of pasta too.

Can I use fresh cherry tomatoes instead of canned cherry tomatoes?

No, fresh cherry tomatoes don't have the rich flavor and consistency that's needed for the sauce so you can't replace canned cherry tomatoes with them in this recipe.

However, if you can't find canned cherry tomatoes, use canned crushed tomatoes, or diced tomatoes. If you want, you can saute some cherry tomatoes when the onion is cooked and use them along with crushed or diced tomatoes.

More easy pasta recipes

Looking for more easy-to-make and delicious pasta recipes? Don't miss to check out the following links:

  • Aubergine pasta
  • Cream cheese pasta
  • Orzo chickpea salad
  • Easy vegan pasta salad
  • Sundried tomato pasta salad
  • Vegetarian baked pasta
  • Pasta with cherry tomatoes and spinach
  • Vegetarian Greek spaghetti
Close up shot of spaghetti napolitana garnished with chopped parsley.

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Recipe

Pasta Napolitana in a black bowl garnished with chopped parsely.

Pasta napolitana

Pasta napolitana is a simple and light pasta dish from Italy. This popular meat-free Italian dish is made with a handful of basic ingredients but is very flavorful and delicious. It gets ready in just 30 minutes and is a great option for weeknight dinner.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 437kcal
Author: Vandana Chauhan

Equipment

  • 1 Large cooking pot
  • 1 large skillet or pan

Ingredients

  • 350 grams spaghetti or any pasta of choice
  • 400 grams canned cherry tomatoes or crushed tomatoes
  • 1 brown onion finely chopped
  • 3-4 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley or basil
  • 2 tablepsoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning blend
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Water to cook pasta

Instructions

  • Cook pasta al dente as per the instructions given on its packet. Just before draining the pasta, collect around 1 cup of pasta water in a bowl and keep it aside. Strain the pasta and keep it aside too.
  • Heat olive oil in a pan and add chopped onion. Saute until the onion becomes translucent.
  • Add minced garlic and saute it for a minute or until its raw smell goes away.
  • Add tomato paste and saute for a minute.
  • Add Italian seasonings, salt, ground black pepper, and canned cherry tomatoes.
  • Cook for around 10 minutes. If the sauce is too thick add some reserved pasta water to adjust the consistency of the sauce.
  • Add cooked pasta and toss until the sauce evenly coats the pasta strands.
  • Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or basil. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

  1. Cook pasta al dente, overcooked pasta will spoil the dish.
  2. Instead of using canned cherry tomatoes, you can also use canned crushed or diced tomatoes.
  3. To reserve the pasta, collect it just before draining the pasta. If you collect the water too early, it won't be starchy enough.
  4. If you are not a vegan or vegetarian, you may add some grated parmesan to pasta napolitana before serving. In case you are a vegetarian and didn't know, parmesan cheese is not a vegetarian ingredient.
  5. Use a large cooking pot or pan to make this dish so that it becomes easy to mix the pasta and sauce.
  6. More recipe tips and tricks are shared in the post above, please follow them to make this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 437kcal | Carbohydrates: 77g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 144mg | Potassium: 568mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 410IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Tag me on instagram #greenbowl2soul

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Hi! Thanks for stopping by my blog. My name is Vandana Chauhan and I am on a mission to explore vegan/ vegetarian recipes from around the world. I am delighted to welcome you to join me on this exciting journey.

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