Penne pasta with tomato sauce

Peel the garlic and chop into thin slices. Cut the tomatoes into cubes. If using canned tomatoes, it is better to blend them.

Heat the olive oil in a pan and add the garlic. Let it roast for 1-2 minutes, but be careful not to burn it, as it can give the recipe a bitter taste.

Add tomatoes or tomato mix and season with salt and pepper. Simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes or until the sauce is thickened. Add the basil towards the end of the sauce cooking, this way it retains its fresh flavour.

While the sauce is simmering, cook the penne in salted water according to the package instructions. Be careful not to overcook the pasta, if you cook it 'al dente' it will have a much better texture.

Mix the cooked penne with the sauce and let it boil for a few more minutes to combine all the flavours.

Before serving, sprinkle the dish with grated Parmesan cheese, which gives the sauce a creaminess and deep flavour.