Creamy Tomato Penne Pasta
Creamy tomato penne pasta made with canned tomatoes, garlic, basil, heavy cream, and Parmesan. The tomato-forward sauce coats every piece of pasta.
Ingredients
- 1½ tablespoons salt for the pasta water
- 250 g penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 400 g canned tomatoes
- 6 fresh basil leaves chopped
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 120 ml heavy cream
- 3 large spoonfuls reserved pasta water
- 60 g Parmesan cheese finely grated
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add 1½ tablespoons salt and cook 250 g penne pasta. Before draining, reserve some of the pasta water.
- Heat 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet. Add 1 large onion, chopped, and ½ teaspoon salt, then stir and cook until the onion softens.
- Add 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped, and stir them into the onion.
- Pour in 400 g canned tomatoes. Break up the tomatoes with a wooden spoon and cook the sauce until it reduces and thickens.
- Stir in the 6 fresh basil leaves, chopped, and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper.
- Pour in 120 ml heavy cream and stir until the tomato sauce is evenly creamy.
- Add the drained penne and 3 large spoonfuls reserved pasta water. Toss until the creamy tomato sauce coats the pasta.
- Add 60 g Parmesan cheese and stir until it melts into the sauce. Serve the creamy tomato penne pasta immediately.
Notes
Canned tomatoes: Break up the tomatoes thoroughly as they cook so the finished sauce coats the penne more evenly.
Pasta water: I reserve it before draining the pasta because its starch helps loosen the sauce without making it watery.
Parmesan: Finely grated cheese melts into the hot sauce more smoothly and is less likely to form clumps.
Sauce consistency: Add the measured pasta water while tossing the penne so the tomato cream sauce spreads evenly through the pasta.
Nutrition
Calories: 503kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 3294mg | Potassium: 531mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 809IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 260mg | Iron: 2mg
