Arrabbiata with bell peppers

This quick arrabbiata like pasta dish is a nice and spicy kick in the face on a slow start of the week. Since I bought a big bag of bell peppers and I'm kinda into them grilled lately, I threw 3 small ones in there. So now we got this tri colore thing going in as well!

You could add a little less chilli flakes, but to be honest, this dish needs to hurt a little... In a good way.

Ingredients (3p):

• 300 gram pasta • 250 gram minced meat (I used pork, the meat is optional though) • 1 onion • 3 garlic cloves • 1 large tbsp chilli flakes • 1 tsp salt • 1 tbsp sugar • 500 gram passata • 1 tbsp dried basil • handful fresh oregano leaves (or 1 tbsp dried oregano) • 3 small bell peppers •

1. Start with a frying pan and heat up on high heat. Add a tiny bit of oil and grill your bell peppers skin side down. The skin will start to brown and slightly blacken, this will bring out a grilled-like flavour. If you have a grill, use this instead. Set the bell peppers aside and use the pan for the sauce.

2. Finely shop your onion and garlic. Saute them in some oil and add the (optional) minced meat. Once this is fully cooked, add salt, sugar and chilli flakes. Stir well.

3. Add the passata into the mixture and simmer for a few minutes. Add in the bell peppers and simmer until your pasta is fully cooked.

4. At the end, add the basil and oregano. Stir the whole thing together and garnish with parmigiano or pecorino.

Enjoy! (Don't forget your drink on the side. If your chilli flakes are the potent kind, you'll need it).

Side note: the spice level will depend on the kind of chilli flakes you use. Taste before you go overboard with the heat!