Description
Craving comfort in a bowl? Garlic-infused tomato pasta delivers rich, silky goodness that whispers Italian culinary magic. Each forkful promises a delightful journey through layers of flavor you’ll savor to the last bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne, fettuccine, or spaghetti)
- 1 (14-ounce/397 grams) can crushed tomatoes (or tomato sauce)
- ½ cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter option)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 tablespoon salt (for boiling water)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 tablespoon fresh basil)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Cooking Enhancers:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 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, incorporating a hearty pinch of salt, and bring to a rolling boil.
- Carefully introduce pasta into the bubbling water, stirring occasionally to prevent clumping, and cook until achieving a tender yet firm texture with a slight resistance when bitten.
- Before draining, extract a measured quantity of starchy cooking liquid, which will later enhance the sauce’s silky consistency and help bind ingredients together.
- Gently strain pasta in a colander, allowing excess water to escape, while preserving the reserved cooking liquid for subsequent sauce preparation.
- In a separate skillet, awaken the aromatics by gently sautéing minced garlic until its fragrance becomes delicately golden and intensely inviting.
- Introduce crushed tomatoes to the garlic, allowing them to simmer and meld together, creating a rich and vibrant base that will enrobe the pasta.
- Incorporate cream into the tomato mixture, stirring smoothly to create a luscious, velvety sauce that coats each pasta strand with luxurious flavor.
- Reunite the cooked pasta with the creamy tomato sauce, using the reserved cooking liquid to adjust the consistency and ensure each noodle is perfectly embraced.
- Season the dish with salt, pepper, and optional herbs, tasting and fine-tuning the flavors to achieve a harmonious balance.
- Serve immediately, garnishing with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of chopped basil for a final touch of elegance.
Notes
- Opt for ripe, juicy tomatoes to enhance the sauce’s natural sweetness and depth of flavor.
- Crush garlic cloves instead of mincing to release more intense aromatics and create a more robust taste profile.
- Use heavy cream or half-and-half for an extra luxurious and silky texture that coats the pasta perfectly.
- For a lighter version, substitute cream with Greek yogurt or coconut milk to reduce calories while maintaining creaminess.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg