For those who love both tomato and cream-based pasta sauces, this recipe is for you! This Italian pink sauce is made of both ingredients, giving you the perfect balance of flavors. The sauce is a beautiful pink and is ideal for use on your next pasta dish. Whether you are using it as a sauce on its own or mixing it in with other ingredients, this sauce is sure to give your dish a unique and delicious flavor.
Ingredients to make Italian pink sauce
- 2 cups tomato sauce/puree
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- Minced shallot
- Minced garlic
- Butter
- Shredded parmesan
- Salt, sugar, and pepper to taste
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- OPTIONAL red pepper flake for garnish
How to make Italian pink sauce
- Chop tomatoes into small chunks and blend them to make tomato puree.
- Melt the butter in a large non-stick skillet. Add in the minced garlic, shallot, Italian seasoning, and saute until slightly golden.
- Add tomato puree and tomato paste. Stir well to dissolve the paste. Turn to medium heat and simmer for 10 – 15 minutes.
- Add heavy cream and parmesan cheese.
- Season with salt, sugar, and pepper. Stir well and continue simmering for 2 more minutes on low heat.
- Turn off the heat and serve the sauce with your favorite pasta.
Notes: Make sure to simmer the sauce on low heat so it doesn’t split up the heavy cream while you’re cooking.
Adding shrimp to your pink pasta
Adding shrimp is a way to level up your pink sauce and my tip for cooking the shrimp is sure to give your dish a unique and delicious flavor. What you need:
- ½ pound shrimp
- Fish sauce
- Olive oil
- Minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
You’re probably thinking, fish sauce? Italian don’t hate me for this, but adding fish sauce to your shrimp will give this dish much more flavor. Trust me on this!
You want to saute the garlic with olive oil, and add in shrimp, fish sauce, and sugar. Continue stirring until the shrimp is cooked. Make sure to not cook it for too long or you might overcook it.
Add your pasta and shrimp to a plate and drizzle your pink sauce on top. Garnish with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes as desired.
FAQs
Can I freeze the pink sauce?
Yes, you can make the sauce ahead of time and freeze them. When ready to serve, don’t warm the sauce in the microwave, as you might accidentally overheat it and cause the cream to split. Make sure to thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and reheat it on the stove over medium heat until it is warm enough NOT to boil.
Why do you add tomato paste to tomato sauce?
Tomato paste is an great addition to tomato sauce because it helps enhance the flavor. Tomato paste is made from tomatoes that have been cooked down until they form a thick paste. This is why it is often used in dishes with tomatoes to make the meal rich in flavors.
Can I add tomato and alfredo sauce to make the pink sauce?
Yes, in the nutshell, the pink sauce is a combination of tomato and cream. Tomato and alfredo sauce are great together, so you can make this pink sauce in less than half the time you make it from scratch.
Can Italian Pink Sauce be made with canned tomatoes?
Yes, Italian Pink Sauce can be made with canned tomatoes. You can use diced or crushed tomatoes, depending on your preference. Just be sure to drain the excess liquid from the can before adding the tomatoes to the sauce.
Rose Shrimp Pasta - Italian Pink Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cups tomato sauce/puree
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- minced shallot
- minced garlic
- butter
- shredded parmesan
- salt, sugar, and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- OPTIONAL red pepper flake for garnish
Instructions
- Chop tomatoes into small chunks and blend them to make tomato puree.
- Melt the butter in a large non-stick skillet. Add in the minced garlic, shallot, Italian seasoning, and saute until slightly golden.
- Add tomato puree and tomato paste. Stir well to dissolve the paste. Turn to medium heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Add heavy cream and parmesan cheese.
- Season with salt, sugar, and pepper. Stir well and continue simmering for 2 minutes on low heat.
- Turn off the heat and serve the sauce with your favorite pasta.
