Creamy Tomato Pasta Delight (Printable)

Luscious tomato-cream sauce with garlic and fresh basil on tender pasta for a comforting meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or spaghetti
02 - Salt, as needed for pasta water

→ Sauce

03 - 2 tbsp olive oil
04 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 14 oz can crushed tomatoes
07 - 1 tbsp tomato paste
08 - 1 tsp sugar
09 - 1 tsp dried oregano
10 - ½ tsp chili flakes (optional)
11 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
12 - ½ cup heavy cream
13 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

# How to Make:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water and drain the pasta.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the finely chopped onion for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, dried oregano, chili flakes if using, salt, and black pepper. Simmer the mixture for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes creamy.
05 - Add the drained pasta to the sauce, tossing gently to coat evenly. If necessary, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to achieve the desired consistency.
06 - Plate the pasta immediately. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and additional Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like youve been cooking for hours when youve barely been standing for twenty minutes.
  • The creamy tomato sauce is the kind of thing that makes you scrape the pan with bread when no ones looking.
  • You probably already have most of these ingredients sitting in your cupboard right now.
02 -
  • Dont skip reserving that pasta water, Ive learned the hard way that it can rescue a sauce that suddenly looks too thick.
  • Add the cream off high heat or it might split and turn grainy instead of silky.
  • Taste the sauce before you add the pasta, this is your moment to adjust the salt or add a pinch more sugar.
03 -
  • Use the best canned tomatoes you can afford, the sauce is simple enough that quality really shows.
  • If youre making this for someone who doesnt eat dairy, coconut cream works surprisingly well and keeps that creamy texture intact.
  • Tear the basil instead of cutting it, it bruises less and tastes brighter.

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