Creamy Tomato Pasta Without Cream
This creamy tomato pasta is the kind of dish that’s super easy to whip up on a weeknight but still feels special enough for a weekend dinner. Plus, the combination of browned butter, garlic, and fresh basil? It’s just too good to pass up.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large shallot
- 5-6 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes adjust to taste
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Fresh basil leaves handful
- 4 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup vegetable stock
- 1 teaspoon sugar optional, to balance acidity
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
For the Pasta:
- Rigatoni pasta
- Salt
- Pasta water
For Garnishing:
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Additional red pepper flakes
- Fresh basil leaves
- Small mozzarella cheese balls optional
Instructions
Prepare the Sauce:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Toss Ingredients: On a large sheet pan, toss the cherry tomatoes, shallot, and garlic with the olive oil.
- Season: sprinkle with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
- Roast: Roast for 45 – 50 minutes until the tomatoes burst and are slightly charred.
Blend and Strain the Sauce:
- Once the tomatoes are nicely roasted.
- Carefully transfer them to a blender.
- Add fresh basil and vegetable stock, blend until silky smooth.
Cook the Pasta:
- While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add the rigatoni and cook until al dente, according to package instructions.
- Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
Combine Pasta and Sauce:
- In a pan, brown the butter on medium-high heat and add the tomato sauce.
- Add the cooked rigatoni to the pan, tossing to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add some of the reserved pasta water to reach the desired consistency.
- Season with salt and oregano to taste.
Garnish and Serve:
- Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, additional red pepper flakes for extra heat, fresh basil leaves, and small mozzarella balls if desired.