Description
A creamy and comforting pasta dish featuring spaghetti tossed in a rich tomato and cream sauce, enhanced with garlic, onion, and Parmesan cheese. This quick and easy recipe is perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 300g/10 oz spaghetti
Sauce
- 2 tbsp / 30g unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup / 250 ml tomato passata (tomato puree)
- 3/4 cup / 185 ml heavy/thickened cream
- 1/2 cup / 125 ml low-fat milk
- 3/4 cup / 30g Parmesan, finely freshly grated
- 1 tsp dried basil or other herb of choice
- 1 tsp chicken or vegetable stock powder or 1 bouillon cube, crumbled
- Finely ground pepper
- Salt
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water for the time indicated on the packet minus 2 minutes to keep it al dente. Just before draining, reserve a mugful of the pasta cooking water to adjust the sauce if needed.
- Sauté Aromatics: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and finely chopped onion and cook until translucent and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Make Sauce: Add tomato passata, heavy cream, milk, Parmesan cheese, dried basil, and chicken or vegetable stock powder to the skillet. Stir continuously until the Parmesan melts and the mixture is well combined. Slightly increase the heat and let the sauce simmer gently for 2 minutes. Season with salt to taste.
- Toss Pasta: Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet. Toss the pasta with the sauce for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and clings to the pasta. Use the reserved pasta water to thin the sauce if it becomes too thick.
- Serve: Plate the pasta immediately and garnish with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Note 1: Tomato passata can be substituted with tomato puree but ensure it is smooth and not too thick.
- Note 2: Heavy cream can be substituted with a mixture of cream and milk as stated, or using light cream for a lighter version; however, this will slightly alter the richness and texture of the sauce.
- Note 3: Freshly grated Parmesan is recommended for better melting and flavor compared to pre-grated varieties.
- Note 4: Use chicken or vegetable stock powder or a bouillon cube to add depth to the sauce. Adjust salt accordingly.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency as needed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Pasta, Tomato Cream Sauce, Spaghetti, Italian Dinner, Quick Pasta Recipe, Creamy Pasta
