Description
Indulgent pink sauce pasta brings Italian comfort straight to your kitchen with a luxurious blend of tomato and cream. Silky noodles bathed in velvety sauce promise a delightful meal you’ll savor to the last bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne, fettuccine, or rigatoni)
- 1 cup tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (or half & half)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
- 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon salt (for boiling water)
- 1/4 cup pasta water
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Initiate pasta preparation by boiling salted water and cooking noodles until perfectly tender. Extract 1/4 cup pasta water before draining and setting pasta aside.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium heat. Sauté diced onions until translucent and softened, approximately 3-4 minutes. Introduce minced garlic and briefly toast for 30 seconds until aromatic.
- Cascade tomato sauce into the skillet, incorporating red pepper flakes, seasoning with salt, black pepper, and Italian herbs. Allow mixture to gently simmer for 5 minutes, occasionally stirring.
- Reduce heat to low and gracefully blend heavy cream into the sauce. Gradually fold in grated Parmesan, enabling it to dissolve smoothly. Incorporate butter for luxurious richness, stirring until sauce achieves silky consistency. Adjust thickness by introducing reserved pasta water if needed.
- Integrate cooked pasta into the velvety sauce, ensuring thorough coating. Enhance presentation by sprinkling fresh basil or parsley and additional Parmesan cheese.
- Plate immediately, complementing with crusty garlic bread or crisp side salad for a complete dining experience.
Notes
- Choose short pasta shapes like penne or rigatoni to hold the creamy sauce perfectly.
- Grate Parmesan cheese fresh for maximum flavor and smoother melting texture.
- Add a splash of white wine while simmering sauce for deeper, more complex taste profile.
- Adjust red pepper flakes based on personal spice tolerance for customized heat level.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 363 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 334 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg