Creamy Tomato Pasta

Ingredients

• 250 g Pasta of choice (Cook according to package instructions until al dente)
• 3 tbsp Butter (Use 1 tbsp during sautéing and add the remaining butter to the sauce)
• 2 tbsp Oil (For heating the pan)
• 2 tbsp Garlic (Freshly minced)
• 0.5 Onion (Thinly diced)
• 4 tbsp Tomato paste
• 1.5 cup Unsweetened heavy cream
• 1 cup Cheddar cheese
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (Freshly grated)
• Salt (To taste)
• 1 tsp Black pepper
• 1 tbsp Garlic powder
• 1 tsp Red chili flakes (Adjust to taste for desired spice level)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 0.5 tsp Smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp Parsley (Chopped, for garnish)
• 0.5 cup Reserved pasta water (Reserve after cooking the pasta; use as needed to loosen the sauce and for deglazing)

Steps

1. 1

   Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.

2. 2

   Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat.

3. 3

   Add 1 tbsp of the butter to the heated oil.

4. 4

   Add the freshly minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.

5. 5

   Add the thinly diced onion and cook until translucent.

6. 6

   Add the tomato paste and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly.

7. 7

   Deglaze the pan with a splash of water, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.

8. 8

   Season the tomato mixture with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, and red chili flakes.

9. 9

   Pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine.

10. 10

    Bring the mixture to a simmer, then add the remaining butter.

11. 11

    Reduce the heat to low. Add the cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, stirring until both cheeses are melted and the sauce is smooth.

12. 12

    Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss until evenly coated. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water as needed.

13. 13

    Garnish with the chopped parsley and serve hot.

Notes

Use high-quality cheese for the best flavor. Adjust the spice level to your liking. The source suggests adding chicken for extra flavor, but does not provide an amount or instructions for doing so.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• pasta
• vegetarian
• creamy
• stovetop
• Italian-inspired
• quick meal