Description
A quick and creamy pasta dish with a delightful balance of rich flavors and subtle heat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz rigatoni or penne
- Salt for boiling water
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic (fresh is best!)
- 2/3 cup tomato paste
- 1 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (plus extra if you like it spicy!)
- 2 tsp dried basil
- Black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (add more if you’re a cheese lover)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- Additional chopped parsley for garnish
- Extra red pepper flakes for serving
- More grated parmesan, of course!
Instructions
- Begin by boiling a large pot of salted water. Add in the pasta and cook until al dente, following package instructions.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in the tomato paste, followed by heavy cream, and let it simmer gently.
- Season the sauce with crushed red pepper flakes, dried basil, and black pepper.
- Once the pasta is cooked, reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain the rest and combine the pasta with the sauce in the skillet.
- Add the reserved pasta water to adjust the sauce’s consistency as desired.
- Stir in the grated parmesan and butter until melted and creamy.
- Garnish with chopped parsley, additional parmesan, and red pepper flakes. Serve hot!
Notes
Feel free to swap in whole wheat pasta or plant-based cream for a healthier or vegan alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: Gigi Hadid Pasta, creamy pasta, quick dinner, Italian recipe, comfort food