An evening of food, fun, and flavourful savourings

On the evening of March 28th, Student Life hosted its very first Italian cooking session at the Purdown Kitchen—and it was delizioso! With the guidance of Ivan (yes, that Ivan—owner of the pizza van near Student Village), we gathered to cook, connect, and learn the secrets behind authentic Italian pasta sauces.

👉 Want to see how it all went?

🍅 What We Cooked

We explored classic tomato-based sauces and even learnt how to make a proper Carbonara—creamy, simple, and made the traditional way (no cream!). Whether you’re a total beginner or a regular in the kitchen, this session showed how easy, affordable, and meal-prep friendly pasta sauce can be.

📌 Note: This isn’t a strict recipe—it’s more of a guide to inspire you. There are no measurements, so feel free to experiment with flavours based on what you like and what you have at home.

👩‍🍳 Tips & Techniques We Learned

• Start simple: Sauté onions (cut into thick 2cm slices). Add herbs like rosemary and thyme, salt, pepper, and a dash of chilli if you like it spicy.
• Tomato secrets: Cut fresh tomatoes into quarters. Cook them in a separate pan on high heat first, then low. Add a pinch of sugar or a splash of milk to reduce acidity.
• Sweat, don’t burn: After a quick burst of high heat, lower the heat to let the onions sweat. This brings out their sweetness and depth. Cook it until golden.
• Save your pasta water: Reserve a ladle of that starchy pasta water to help your sauce cling better and enhance flavour.

🍝 Pasta Pairing 101

We discovered that not all pasta is created equal when it comes to sauce:

• Spaghetti or linguine are perfect for Carbonara, as their shape holds the creamy egg-based sauce beautifully.
• Penne works well with chunkier tomato sauces, especially with extras like olives, pesto, bell peppers, or protein like chicken and beef.

Fun fact: You can freeze your sauces alone or with cooked pasta for easy lunches and dinners all week!

🧄 Ingredients We Used (as a guide)

• Onion
• Bell pepper
• Fresh tomatoes or tomato purée
• Mixed herbs (like rosemary and thyme)
• Pesto sauce (optional)
• Olives
• Eggs (for Carbonara)
• Pasta (penne, spaghetti)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt, pepper, chilli flakes
• Meat (chicken, beef – optional)
• Parmesan cheese (optional)

🔥 Bonus Tip: Cooking with Bell Peppers

If you're using bell peppers as your base, cook them down with onions, herbs, and a sprinkle of parmesan for a comforting, flavour-packed sauce. Perfect on its own or mixed into your pasta!

🧊 Save Time, Save Money, Eat Well

One of the key lessons of the night? Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Homemade pasta sauces are healthier, more budget-friendly, and taste 10x better than what you’d find in a jar. Plus, they’re easy to meal prep and freeze—a win-win for busy student life.

This event wasn’t just about learning to cook—it was about coming together, sharing stories, and learning a life skill that can serve you far beyond university. Because Italian cooking isn’t just food—it’s love, culture, and connection.

💚🤍❤️

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