Description
Creamy tomato garlic pasta weaves Italian culinary magic into a simple yet luxurious dinner experience. Mediterranean flavors dance through silky sauce and perfectly al dente noodles, inviting you to savor each comforting bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne, fettuccine, or spaghetti)
- 1 (14-ounce) (400 grams) can crushed tomatoes (or tomato sauce)
- ½ cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter option)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 tablespoon fresh basil)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Cooking Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon salt (for boiling water)
- ¼ cup pasta water (reserved)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (for extra richness)
- Fresh basil, chopped
- Extra Parmesan cheese
- Black pepper or chili flakes
Instructions
- Fill a generously-sized pot with water, season with salt, and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Gently lower pasta into the bubbling water, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, and cook until perfectly tender yet firm to the bite.
- Before draining, carefully extract and preserve a portion of the starchy cooking liquid, which will later enhance the sauce’s silky texture.
- Strain the pasta in a colander, allowing excess water to drip away, and set aside while preparing the subsequent components.
- In a spacious skillet, melt butter and introduce minced garlic, allowing the aromatics to release their fragrant essence without browning.
- Pour in heavy cream and diced tomatoes, stirring consistently to create a harmonious, velvety base that will envelop the pasta.
- Sprinkle grated parmesan and season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper, whisking until the cheese melts and integrates smoothly.
- Incorporate the reserved pasta water, a little at a time, to achieve the desired sauce consistency and amplify the overall flavor profile.
- Reunite the cooked pasta with the luxurious sauce, gently folding to ensure each strand is lavishly coated.
- Garnish with freshly chopped basil or parsley, and serve immediately while the dish remains piping hot and magnificently creamy.
Notes
- Master the pasta cooking technique by ensuring water is generously salted, creating a flavor foundation for your dish.
- Save pasta water before draining, as its starchy liquid helps create a silky, emulsified sauce that clings perfectly to noodles.
- Test pasta doneness by tasting – al dente means tender with a slight bite, preventing mushy textures that can ruin the dish’s overall quality.
- For gluten-free variations, substitute traditional wheat pasta with chickpea, lentil, or rice-based alternatives that maintain similar texture and absorb sauce beautifully.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 66 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg