Easy Creamy Tomato Pasta

Illustrative stock photos, not this exact recipe. Photo credits are at the bottom of the page.

This is the pasta you make when it is late and the fridge is nearly empty. Tomato paste, canned tomatoes and a splash of cream turn into a glossy sauce while the spaghetti boils.

Cooking the tomato paste for a minute removes its raw edge, and a ladle of starchy pasta water helps the sauce cling to every strand.

Recipe label: Based on traditional technique. Photo: illustrative stock photo, not the finished dish from this exact recipe.

Photo credits: Photo 1: Aurora Song on Unsplash; Photo 2: nikki awal on Pexels; Photo 3: Veronika Benz on Pexels. Free stock photos, used under the Unsplash or Pexels license and shown here as illustrations only.

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Easy Creamy Tomato Pasta

Author: KP Cooking Method: Pan-Frying Cuisine: Italian Courses: Dinner, Lunch Recipe Keys: B Budget-Friendly F Family Favorites Kids Quick Meals Vegetarian Meals

Prep Time 5 mins Cook Time 20 mins Total Time 25 mins

Servings: 4

Description

A silky tomato cream sauce coats spaghetti in 20 minutes using pantry ingredients. A simple vegetarian dinner the whole family likes.

Ingredients

Servings

• 350 g spaghetti or penne (12 oz)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion (finely chopped)
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 400 g canned crushed tomatoes (1 can)
• 120 ml heavy cream (½ cup)
• 1 tsp sugar (optional)
• 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• ½ tsp red chili flakes
• 40 g grated Parmesan (½ cup)
• fresh basil (to serve)

Instructions

1. Boil the pasta in well-salted water until 1 minute short of the packet time. Save 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
2. Soften the onion in the oil over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
3. Add the crushed tomatoes, salt, sugar and chili flakes. Simmer 8 minutes until slightly thickened.
4. Stir in the cream and Parmesan. Add the pasta and a splash of pasta water and toss for 1-2 minutes until glossy.
5. Top with basil and extra Parmesan and serve straight away.

Note

Pasta water thins or thickens the sauce, so add it a little at a time. Parmesan is not strictly vegetarian because it uses animal rennet; use a vegetarian hard cheese if needed. Keeps 3 days in the fridge; add a splash of water when reheating.