Description
Savory Tomato Garlic Pasta brings rustic Italian charm to your dinner table with minimal ingredients and maximum flavor. Fragrant garlic and ripe tomatoes dance together, creating a simple yet irresistible meal you’ll want to enjoy again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) rigatoni or penne pasta
Main Ingredients:
- 6 large ripe tomatoes, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Garnishes:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped
- Additional grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water at high heat for 8-10 minutes until perfectly al dente. Drain thoroughly, reserving approximately 1/2 cup of starchy cooking liquid for later sauce adjustment.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium temperature, adding minced garlic and sautéing quickly for 30-45 seconds until aromatic without browning.
- Introduce diced tomatoes into the skillet, cooking for 5-6 minutes while gently stirring. Watch for tomatoes to soften and release natural juices, creating a vibrant base.
- Pour heavy cream into the tomato mixture, allowing it to simmer gently. Gradually incorporate grated Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until smooth and velvety.
- Season the sauce with salt, ground black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes to enhance flavor complexity. Adjust seasoning according to personal preference.
- Fold cooked pasta into the creamy tomato sauce, ensuring each strand gets evenly coated. Use reserved pasta water to thin sauce if needed, creating perfect consistency.
- Remove skillet from heat, delicately fold in freshly chopped basil leaves to infuse bright, herbaceous notes into the dish.
- Transfer pasta to serving plates, garnishing with additional basil leaves and extra Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while hot and incredibly aromatic.
Notes
- Preserve pasta’s perfect texture by cooking it just until al dente, ensuring it remains slightly firm and can absorb the creamy sauce without becoming mushy.
- Adjust sauce consistency by keeping reserved pasta water, which helps thin out the sauce and adds a silky smooth texture without losing flavor intensity.
- Choose ripe, in-season tomatoes for maximum sweetness and depth of flavor, transforming a simple pasta dish into a vibrant culinary experience.
- Experiment with dairy-free alternatives like coconut cream or cashew cream to create a delicious vegan version that maintains the recipe’s rich, creamy profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg