Cooked Pasta In a large skillet or saucepan, heat the oil with the garlic, onion, and ham over moderate-to-high heat. When they begin to brown, after 3 to 5 minutes, add the broth, stirring and scraping to deglaze. Then add the tomatoes, breaking them up with your hands, and stir in the remaining ingredients. Simmer the sauce until it is thick but still slightly liquid, about 15 minutes. Spoon over cooked pasta (medium to wide strands, ribbons, tubes, or shapes). Note: to make reduced chicken broth, briskly boil 2 cups of broth until it reduces down to 1 cup (approx. 15 minutes).