Mozzarella and pesto tortelloni in tomato sauce

It's always sad to be coming back from holiday. Although, I do also love that moment when you open the front door to your own home after a long absence. All your own home comforts back with you once again and that dream of moving to the South of France a distant memory. 

So we disembarked the plane from Nice to Gatwick about 5.30pm our time. How to continue that holiday feeling? Why, thank you Misters Marks and Spencer, yes we will purchase some French Merlot for the Gatwick Express home. A bottle of wine and two glasses on the commute, tres francais. 

When we arrived home an hour later, we were conscious of dinner time looming and suitcases needing to be unpacked. Thankfully I had picked up a packet of mozzarella and (basically) pesto tortelloni before our holiday and I set about making a quick tomato sauce to serve with it for a truly tasty, simple and satisfying meal. Everything doesn't always have to be cooked from scratch, sometimes cheating is ok.

What you will need
Basil and pine nut tortelloni (or any other)
1 jar of passata
3 cloves garlic
1 tea spoon chilli flakes
125ml red wine
1 table spoon balsamic vinegar
1 table spoon tomato puree

Simply chop the cloves of garlic and chilli flakes. Add to some olive oil and fry gently just for a minute. Add the small jar of passata, the red wine, the balsamic vinegar, tomato puree and salt and pepper. Cook at a medium heat for 15-20 minutes until reduced and thickened.

Next, take the tortelloni, which ever you have chosen and cook as per instructions. Mine was the Sainsbury's  taste the difference 'basil and pine nut margherite'.

Serve the tortelloni with the deliciously tangy tomato sauce and some grated fresh parmesan and lashings of ground black pepper.



Cheating and being just good enough (because I didn't make the tortelloni), can sometimes actually taste great. After many many french meals and a long journey home, I thoroughly enjoyed this simple cheats meal, made with very little effort.