Description
This easy rose pasta sauce recipe combines a creamy tomato base with fragrant shallots, garlic, and parmesan cheese to create a luscious, comforting dish that comes together in just 20 minutes. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, the sauce is simmered gently and mixed with your choice of pasta, making it rich, flavorful, and satisfying.
Ingredients
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (plus additional for drizzling)
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 shallot, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated (plus more for serving)
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Pasta
- 16 ounces pasta (any kind you prefer)
Instructions
- Boil the pasta water: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil for cooking the pasta.
- Sauté shallot and garlic: While the water is heating, warm 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced shallot and cook for 3-5 minutes until softened, then add the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Simmer the tomato sauce: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let it simmer gently for about 10 minutes to develop flavors while the pasta cooks.
- Cook the pasta: Add pasta to the boiling salted water and cook until al dente, about 1-2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water for later.
- Finish the sauce and combine: Stir the heavy cream, grated parmesan, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper into the simmering tomato sauce. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to combine thoroughly. If the sauce seems too thick, add some reserved pasta water to loosen it to your desired consistency.
- Serve and garnish: Plate the pasta and garnish with additional parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil for extra richness and flavor.
Notes
- Use good quality crushed tomatoes for the best flavor.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to control the heat level.
- Reserving pasta water is key to achieving the perfect sauce consistency.
- Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter version, but the sauce will be less rich.
- Parmesan cheese adds umami and creaminess, so don't skip it.
- This sauce pairs well with penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian