Description
A velvety, creamy tomato blush sauce perfect for weeknight pasta or impressing guests. Ready in under 30 minutes!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes (San Marzano recommended)
- ½ cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (or 1 tsp dried)
For the Pasta:
- 1 pound pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine)
Optional Add-Ins:
- Grilled chicken, shrimp, or sautéed mushrooms
- A pinch of crushed fennel seed
- Spinach or kale
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium. Add garlic and red pepper flakes; sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add Tomatoes: Stir in crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, salt, pepper, and sugar. Simmer uncovered for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add Cream: Lower heat and slowly stir in the heavy cream. Cook for 3–4 minutes until sauce turns blush and coats the back of a spoon.
- Add Cheese & Herbs: Stir in Parmesan and basil. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Cook Pasta: In a separate pot, cook pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
- Combine: Toss pasta with sauce in the skillet. Add pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce. Serve hot, garnished with cheese and herbs.
Notes
- Substitute heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk or cashew cream for dairy-free.
- Use gluten-free pasta if needed.
- Sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated for 4 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Reheat gently with a splash of broth or cream to restore texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1½ cups
- Calories: 585 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 68g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 70mg