Easy Chorizo Pasta
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
This quick and flavourful chorizo pasta is on regular rotation at our place — ready in just 30 minutes! Made with fully cured chorizo, fresh tomatoes, roasted capsicum, and a hint of paprika, it’s a homestyle dish that’s full of bold flavour and so easy to make.
Ingredients
- 200 g fully cured chorizo or salami, thinly sliced
- 1 medium onion diced
- 160 g roasted red capsicum, sliced from a jar
- 600 g ripe tomatoes deseeded and chopped
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1-2 tsp sugar to taste
- 350 g dried pasta
- Olive oil, for cooking
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Splash of reserved pasta water
- (Optional) A few sliced black olives
- (Optional) Shaved Parmesan or cheddar, to serve
- (Optional) Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to the boil and add a generous spoon of salt.
- Meanwhile, heat a generous splash of olive oil in a large pan over moderate heat.
- Add the sliced chorizo and diced onion. Cook for a few minutes until the onion is soft and the chorizo is fragrant and beginning to crisp.
- Add the chopped tomatoes, sliced roasted capsicum, and sweet paprika. Stir to combine.
- Sprinkle in 1 teaspoon of sugar, cover with a lid, and reduce the heat slightly. Simmer for 4–5 minutes.
- Stir the sauce, then add a small ladle of pasta water. Cover again and cook for another 5 minutes or until the tomatoes have broken down.
- (Optional) Add a handful of sliced olives. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt & pepper and a little more sugar if needed.
- Cook pasta according to packet instructions. Once cooked, transfer pasta directly to the pan with the sauce, bringing some pasta water with it.
- Toss to combine, adding a little more pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Serve with a drizzle of olive oil, a sprinkle of cheese, and parsley if desired.
Notes
- This recipe works best with fully cured chorizo or salami for maximum flavour.
- Today I used a mild chorizo, but you can use a hot chorizo if you like it spicy. Backa Australia do a really lovely spicy chorizo and also a spicy pork salami named The Godfather.
- Gluten-free pasta works well too — just be gentle when stirring, as it can break more easily.