MAURO'S CHICK PEA· AND SPINACH SAUCE

Mauro is a seriously gastronomic Italian who runs a shop selling pasta, sauces and other Italian foods in Muswell Hill, North London. Most ofhis sauces contain meat or are for other reasons unsuitable for inclusion here, but the following is both simple and inexpensive, and the cheaper because it can be served without cheese, although you can sprinkle some over if you prefer (I think the slightly softer flavour of pecorino goes with it better than Parmesan).

As with Spinach Sauce, use real (fresh) spinach. Serve the sauce with tagliatelle or pasta shapes. For 3-4.

3 oz/90 9 chick peas, soaked overnight in cold water

I Ib/500 9 ripe tomatoes