A Smoky, Grown-Up Comfort Dish

This started as a nostalgic dinner and somehow became something worth making properly.

It has all the comfort of spaghetti hoops on toast - soft pasta, tomato sauce, plenty of carbs - but with deeper flavour from smoky chipotle, good tomatoes and sharp Pecorino melted over the top.

The sauce comes together quickly, the pasta catches all the smoky tomato richness, and the sourdough underneath turns it into something halfway between comfort food and an actually very good dinner.

It’s simple, slightly ridiculous, and exactly the sort of thing you end up craving again once you’ve made it.

Serves 4

You’ll Need

• 1 tbsp Cool Chile mojo de ajo or garlic-infused oil
• ½ onion, finely diced
• 1–2 tsp cool chile chipotle in adobo
• 300g spaghetti hoops (anelli pasta)
• 1 tin good-quality tomatoes
• A dash of sherry or red wine vinegar
• 4 slices sourdough
• Pecorino, grated

To Make

• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the spaghetti hoops until al dente. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the garlic oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook gently until soft and translucent.
• Stir through the chipotle in adobo and cook for another minute so the smoky flavour softens into the oil.
• Add the tomatoes along with a small dash of vinegar and simmer gently for a few minutes until rich and properly combined.
• Stir the cooked pasta hoops through the sauce until fully coated.
• Toast the sourdough and brush with a little extra garlic oil if you like.

Spoon the chipotle spaghetti hoops generously over the toast and finish with plenty of grated Pecorino.

Why This Works

Chipotle changes the flavour of a simple tomato sauce surprisingly quickly. It adds smokiness, warmth and depth without turning the dish overly spicy.

The vinegar sharpens everything slightly, while the Pecorino brings saltiness and richness that stops the whole thing tasting too sweet.

And underneath it all, it still tastes comfortingly familiar - just a little less beige than the version many of us grew up eating.

Best Served With

Something crisp and fresh alongside helps balance the richness.

A sharp green salad, pickled onions or even crisps work surprisingly well.

Easy Swaps

• Add mozzarella for extra comfort-food energy
• Use parmesan instead of Pecorino
• Add chilli flakes if you want more heat
• Stir through spinach or white beans to bulk it out

FAQs

What are spaghetti hoops?

Spaghetti hoops, also known as anelli pasta, are small ring-shaped pasta often used in soups and baked pasta dishes.

Is chipotle very spicy?

Not particularly. Chipotle brings more smoky depth than heat, though you can add more depending on preference.

Can I make this ahead?

The sauce can be made ahead, though the pasta is best cooked fresh before serving.

What bread works best?

Good sourdough holds up particularly well under the sauce, but any thick-cut toasted bread works.