Description
Homemade creamy tomato garlic pasta delivers restaurant-quality comfort directly to kitchen tables. Simple ingredients merge into a silky sauce with fresh herbs and bold Mediterranean flavors that welcome hungry diners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, fettuccine, or spaghetti)
- 1 (14 oz/397 g) can crushed tomatoes (or tomato sauce)
- ½ cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter option)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter (for extra richness)
- 1 tbsp salt (for boiling water)
- ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil (or 1 tbsp fresh basil)
- ¼ cup pasta water (reserved)
- Fresh basil, chopped
- Extra Parmesan cheese
- Black pepper or chili flakes
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a vigorous boil, ensuring ample space for pasta to move freely.
- Cooking Technique: Immerse pasta into boiling water, stirring intermittently to prevent adhesion, and cook until reaching al dente perfection – tender with a subtle resistance.
- Liquid Preservation: Before draining, carefully extract a cup of starchy cooking liquid, a crucial element for later sauce refinement and ingredient cohesion.
- Sauce Foundation: In a separate skillet, gently toast minced garlic until it releases a golden, aromatic essence, creating a flavor-packed base for the sauce.
- Tomato Transformation: Pour crushed tomatoes into the garlic-infused pan, allowing them to simmer and develop a rich, concentrated flavor profile that will elevate the entire dish.
- Creamy Integration: Blend cream into the tomato mixture, stirring smoothly to create a luxurious, silky sauce that will envelop each pasta strand with velvety richness.
- Final Assembly: Unite the perfectly cooked pasta with the creamy tomato sauce, using reserved cooking liquid to achieve ideal consistency and ensure complete flavor absorption.
- Seasoning Finale: Enhance the dish with carefully balanced salt, pepper, and optional herbs, tasting and adjusting to create a harmonious culinary experience.
- Presentation: Plate immediately, crowning with freshly grated Parmesan and a delicate sprinkle of chopped basil to add a final layer of aromatic sophistication.
Notes
- Master Pasta Water: Salt the water generously to infuse flavor directly into pasta during cooking, creating a foundational taste layer.
- Control Pasta Texture: Remove pasta slightly before complete doneness to prevent overcooking, ensuring a perfect al dente consistency with gentle bite resistance.
- Leverage Starchy Liquid: Reserve pasta water as a magical sauce thickener and binding agent, helping create smooth, clingy sauce without additional thickeners.
- Balance Sauce Consistency: Adjust sauce thickness by gradually adding reserved pasta water, allowing precise control over final dish texture and preventing potential dryness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg