One of the simplest dishes to make is pasta.  Add fresh prawns and toss with chilli, tomatoes, garlic, basil and cream, and viola! a delicious flavoursome meal.  It takes no more than 20 mins to whip this up; definitely one for the busy office worker after a hard day's work.

INGREDIENTS (serves 2)

• 150 gm spiral pasta

• 8 fresh prawns (peeled, de-veined)

• 1 teaspoon salt

• Dash black pepper

• 1 clove garlic (sliced)

• 1 fresh chilli (sliced)

• 2 pieces sun-dried tomatoes (minced)

• 1 tablespoon oil

• 2 fresh tomatoes (quartered)

• 6 green beans (blanched and chopped)

• 1/2 cup chicken stock

• 3 tablespoons tomato sauce

• 1/2 teaspoon sugar

• 1/2 cup cream

• 1 tablespoon dried basil (use fresh basil leaves where available)

METHOD

1. Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until tender.  Drain.

2. Season prawn with salt and pepper for 5 minutes.

3. Put oil in the pan and add marinated prawns and fry until coloured.  Remove prawns to a dish.

4. Add more oil to the pan and fry garlic and chilli until fragrant.  Add tomatoes, green beans, tomato sauce, sugar and chicken stock to the pan and simmer for 5 mins.  Finally add cream and stir and bring it to the boil.

5. Add cooked pasta and basil and toss well. Remove to serving dish and top with prawns.