Sweet Potato Pasta Sauce
This sweet potato pasta sauce is made by roasting sweet potato, onion, and garlic, then blending everything until smooth. It creates a creamy sweet potato pasta with deep flavor from roasted sweet potato pasta sauce, finished simply on the stove.
Ingredients
- 225 g spaghetti, penne, or pasta of choice
- 680 g sweet potato diced
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 6 cloves garlic unpeeled
- 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon chili flakes optional, plus extra for garnish
- Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
- Grated parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Add the sweet potato, onion, and unpeeled garlic to a large baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and black pepper. Toss well, spread evenly, and roast for 30 minutes, until the sweet potato is very soft and lightly caramelized.
- Let the vegetables cool slightly. Squeeze the roasted garlic out of its skins. Transfer the sweet potato, onion, garlic, and a splash of water to a blender and blend until completely smooth.
- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- Transfer the blended mixture to a large pot over low to medium heat. Stir in the tomato paste, smoked paprika, and chili flakes. Cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring constantly, until heated through and well combined.
- Add the cooked pasta to the pot and toss until evenly coated. Loosen the sauce with reserved pasta water as needed until glossy and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Serve hot, finished with fresh basil, grated parmesan cheese, and extra chile flakes if desired.
Notes
Blend Until Smooth: I like to let the blender run for a full minute so the sweet potato pasta sauce turns completely smooth and creamy, without any grainy texture.
Roast Until Very Soft: I make sure the sweet potato is fully soft and lightly caramelized before blending; this is what gives the roasted sweet potato pasta its deep flavor and smooth finish.
Loosen with Pasta Water: I add warm pasta water a little at a time until the sauce coats the pasta evenly and stays creamy without becoming thin.
Nutrition
Calories: 474kcal | Carbohydrates: 82g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 601mg | Potassium: 855mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 24526IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 2mg
