Step 1

Bring a large 8 to 12-quart pot of water to a boil. Heat the olive oil, garlic and hot peppers in a large 12 to 14-inch saute pan until the garlic is fragrant. Add the crushed tomatoes and cook for 20 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper, adding more hot peppers or red pepper flakes to make it spicier, if desired.

Step 2

When the water has come to a boil, add 2 tablespoons of salt. Add the fresh pasta and cook for about 3 minutes or according to package instructions if store-bought. Drain the pasta and reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water.

Step 3

Add the pasta to the sauce and cook for about 1 minute, adding pasta water as needed to make the sauce slightly loose and glossy. Top with basil and serve immediately.