Easy Black Pepper Penne Pasta
Discover a restaurant-quality black pepper pasta made right at home. This simple, savory dish balances bold, peppery sauce with fresh garlic sprouts.
Skip the takeout and elevate your weeknight dinner with this quick black pepper penne. It combines the comfort of pasta with the sharp, aromatic kick of black pepper sauce and the freshness of garlic sprouts. This dish is not only economical and healthy but also a perfect demonstration of how simple, high-quality ingredients can create a sophisticated flavor profile.
Ingredients
- 200 g penne pasta
- 2 tbsp black pepper sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 onion, chopped
- 50 g garlic sprouts
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- 1Boil the pasta
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt. Add the penne pasta and boil for approximately 10 minutes until cooked through. Stir the pasta with chopsticks a few times during the process to ensure even cooking.
Tip: Stirring the pasta early on prevents it from sticking together in the boiling water. - 2Stir the pasta
While the penne pasta is boiling, use a pair of chopsticks to gently stir the pasta several times. This helps the pasta cook evenly and prevents it from clumping together in the wok.
Tip: Use long cooking chopsticks to keep your hands safely away from the steam. - 3Drain the pasta
Once the penne pasta is fully cooked, lift it out of the boiling water using a slotted spoon. Rinse the cooked pasta thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking process, then set it aside for later use.
Tip: Rinsing with cold water keeps the pasta firm and prevents it from becoming mushy. - 4Sauté aromatics
Heat oil in a clean pan or wok. Once the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and chopped onion. Stir-fry the mixture until it becomes fragrant and the onions turn translucent.
Tip: Ensure the oil is hot before adding the garlic to get the best aroma. - 5Add black pepper sauce
Pour the black pepper sauce into the wok containing the sautéed garlic and onions. Stir well to combine the flavors thoroughly and heat the sauce until it is bubbling gently.
Tip: Make sure to stir the sauce well so it coats the aromatics evenly. - 6Combine pasta and sauce
Add the rinsed and drained penne pasta into the wok with the prepared black pepper sauce base. Toss and stir-fry everything together over medium heat until the pasta is well-coated with the sauce.
Tip: Toss the pasta quickly so every piece is coated in the savory black pepper sauce. - 7Add garlic sprouts
Add the fresh garlic sprouts to the pan with the black pepper pasta. Stir-fry everything together briefly until the sprouts are just wilted and fragrant, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
Tip: Garlic sprouts cook quickly, so add them at the very end to maintain their vibrant green color and crisp texture. - 8Stir-fry to finish
Use a wooden spatula to thoroughly stir-fry the pasta, black pepper sauce, and garlic sprouts together. Ensure every piece of penne is well-coated with the sauce and the ingredients are fully combined before removing from the heat to serve.
Tip: Keep the heat medium-high while stir-frying to ensure the sauce adheres well to the pasta without burning the garlic or onions.
