Description
Creamy tomato pasta brings Italian comfort right to dinner tables. Mediterranean ingredients blend seamlessly for a quick, delicious meal everyone can enjoy. You’ll savor each bite of this simple yet satisfying recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (spaghetti, penne, or your favorite type)
- 1 can (14 oz/400 g) crushed tomatoes or tomato passata
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- 2 tbsps olive oil or unsalted butter
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning (or a mix of oregano and basil)
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for a slight kick)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Boiling Preparation: Heat a large pot of water with salt until vigorously bubbling, then cook pasta to al dente perfection according to package instructions, reserving 1/2 cup starchy pasta water before draining.
- Sauce Foundation: In a spacious skillet, warm olive oil and sauté minced garlic until fragrant, releasing its intense aroma for two minutes over moderate heat.
- Tomato Transformation: Pour crushed tomatoes into the skillet, enhancing with Italian seasoning and optional red pepper flakes, allowing the mixture to gently reduce and concentrate flavors for 5-7 minutes.
- Creamy Elevation: Lower heat and blend heavy cream into the tomato base, stirring until a velvety sauce emerges, then integrate Parmesan cheese, ensuring complete melting and smooth incorporation.
- Flavor Calibration: Season the sauce with salt and black pepper, fine-tuning to personal taste preferences, creating a balanced and vibrant flavor profile.
- Pasta Integration: Fold cooked pasta directly into the skillet, thoroughly coating each strand with the luxurious sauce, strategically adding reserved pasta water to achieve an ideal silky consistency.
- Elegant Presentation: Transfer to serving plates, generously garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves, presenting a restaurant-quality dish that’s ready to be savored immediately.
Notes
- Preserve Pasta Texture: Cook pasta al dente to maintain a slight bite, preventing mushy consistency and ensuring a perfect pasta experience.
- Pasta Water Magic: Reserve starchy pasta water as a secret weapon for adjusting sauce consistency, helping bind sauce to noodles and create a silky, cohesive dish.
- Garlic Technique: Sauté garlic briefly to release flavor without burning, which can introduce bitter undertones and compromise the sauce’s delicate balance.
- Customize Spice Level: Adjust red pepper flakes to personal heat preference, allowing flexibility for those who enjoy mild or more intense flavor profiles.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 57 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg