Quick Creamy Tomato Pasta
A luscious and satisfying pasta dish featuring a vibrant tomato sauce enriched with a touch of cream, creating a silky texture that coats every strand of pasta. It's a quick and elegant solution for a delicious weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- 200 g pasta any short pasta like penne or fusilli
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 400 g canned crushed tomatoes
- 0.5 cup heavy cream
- 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 0.25 cup fresh basil chopped
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 8-10 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring until heated through and cheese is melted.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil and extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
For extra flavor, add sautéed garlic and onion before the tomatoes. A pinch of red pepper flakes adds a nice kick. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley. You can also add a handful of spinach for extra greens.