The last of my Schar fresh pasta recipes was with their Tortellini con prosciutto crudo.  I love a tortellini but unfortunately I couldn’t try this out as I no longer eat meat! However, I had a very willing participant to try it out for me, so I came up with a sauce I thought would compliment the pasta and make it even tastier.

This sweet red pepper and tomato sauce with fresh basil running through it sets off the prosciutto nicely, as I wanted to make sure that I didn’t want to take away too much from the flavour of the ham inside the pasta shell.  I would say from the empty plate I had left in front of me in a matter of minutes tells me it tasted pretty good!

The sauce uses just your average store cupboard ingredients and is a go-to for me when I need a tasty dish in under 20 minutes; and using the Schar tortellini which cooks in 4 minutes makes this dish even easier!

Schar Tortellini with a Sweet Pepper & Tomato Sauce 

Prep Time: 5 minutes                          Cook Time: 20 minutes                      Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 1 packet Schar Tortellini con prosciutto crudo
• 2 shallots (or 1 small onion)
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 red pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 400ml can of good quality chopped tomatoes
•  1/2 teaspoon oregano
• small bunch of fresh basil
• splash of balsamic vinegar
• salt and pepper
• parmesan shavings to garnish

Method

1. To prepare for the pasta, have a medium sized pan of water on a rolling boil
2. In a small saucepan over a medium heat, add the oil and add your chopped shallots.  Cook until translucent then add in your crushed garlic clove and fry for a few minutes
   
3. Next add in the peppers, chopped into small pieces.  Cook for around 5 minutes until they begin to soften
4. Add in the oregano and stir, cooking for another minute
5. Tip in the tin of chopped tomatoes, as well as the splash of balsamic vinegar.  Let the sauce come to a simmer, then taste and season
   
6. Meanwhile add the tortellini to the pan of boiling water and cook as per packet instructions; they should take about 4 minutes until al dente
7. Just before serving, roughly chop your basil and add to the sauce and stir through
   
8. Drain your pasta and top with the sweet rich pepper and tomato sauce, then garnish with parmesan shavings and more basil
9. Enjoy!