Audrey Hepburn’s 4-Ingredient Pasta Is Known for Its Unexpected Ingredient

At Dinogo, we love getting a glimpse into the kitchens of our favorite celebrities. Whether it's an NFL legend, a country music star, or a former first lady, discovering what these A-listers cook and eat makes them feel a bit more relatable. Even Hollywood icons like Audrey Hepburn aren't immune. While her elegance and charm made her seem untouchable, learning about the 'lazy girl' meal she whipped up when life got hectic shows she's just like us.

The Secret to Audrey Hepburn’s 4-Ingredient Penne

Thanks to her son Luca Dotti and his book 'Audrey at Home,' we get a better idea of what went down in Audrey Hepburn's kitchen. Pasta was her go-to dish, fueling her busy career. In fact, Dotti has described her as having a 'serious pasta addiction.'

Audrey especially loved making pasta al pomodoro using vegetables from her own garden. But on days when she didn’t want to go all out with her signature homemade sauce, she'd make a simpler version using an unexpected ingredient: ketchup.

Yes, ketchup (she was a fan of Heinz). It may sound like something a college student would whip up on a tight budget, but Audrey's version turns this simple ingredient into a surprisingly elegant dish. After all, we’re talking about Audrey Hepburn here.

This low-effort, one-pot meal was the perfect way for Hepburn to unwind on a quiet Sunday evening with her son. As Dotti shared, 'Her idea of a perfect evening was relaxing in front of the TV with a plate of penne and ketchup.'

So, in my quest to embrace Audrey Hepburn’s version of 'the good life,' I had to try her pasta alla ketchup for myself.

I Tried Audrey Hepburn’s Penne with Ketchup

Though I’ve always admired Audrey Hepburn, I can’t say I’m a big fan of ketchup. I never put it on eggs, rarely on burgers, and only occasionally with fries. So, as my own toughest critic, I figured I’d be the perfect judge of this penne with ketchup recipe.

And surprisingly, I actually enjoyed it.

To start, you don’t smother the pasta in ketchup like you would with fries. Instead, just enough is added to create a pale pink sauce when mixed with butter. I expected it to be sweet, but it’s actually tangy, almost like a barbecue sauce. The cheese adds a creamy balance to the acidity.

My biggest takeaway, though, was the silkiness of the pasta. There's a step in the recipe where you let the noodles rest in the warm pot, covered, after mixing with oil and butter for a couple of minutes. This technique, called 'mantecare,' produced the smoothest, most luxurious pasta I've ever tasted.

Next time you're craving a quick and easy dinner, turn to this simple, four-ingredient Audrey Hepburn classic. With the right mindset, it's no longer a student’s meal—it's a dinner fit for a star.

Audrey Hepburn's Penne with Ketchup Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound penne pasta
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Dollop of ketchup or more to taste
• Emmentaler or Gruyère cheese, grated for serving

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup of pasta water. In the same pot, over medium heat, toss the pasta with butter and oil for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for another 2 minutes.
2. Transfer the pasta to a serving bowl and toss with just enough ketchup to create a soft pink hue. Top with grated cheese and serve.

Recipe inspired by 'Audrey at Home'