Creamy Tomato Penne
Penne alla vodka – but, of course, we’re not going to use vodka – so this is a simple and flavorful creamy tomato penne 🍅🍝♡ ༘*.ﾟ
Ingredients
Pasta:
- 1 lb penne
Pasta sauce:
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 shallot finely minced
- 6 garlic cloves finely minced
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes can add more or less depending on preference
- 6 oz tomato paste one small can
- 1/3 cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup reserved pasta water save more if needed
- 4 oz parmesan freshly grated
- 2 tbsp butter, unsalted
Garnish:
- freshly grated parmesan
- fresh basil leaves whole, or chopped
Instructions
Pasta✮⋆˙
- In a large pot of generously salted boiling water, cook the pasta until al dente - I boiled mine for 7 minutes . Reserve at least 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set the pasta aside with a quick rinse of cold water to prevent them from cooking further.
Pasta base✮⋆˙
- Make sure your shallot and garlic are as finely minced as you can make them - we dont want to chew on large onion and garlic chunks:,)
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and sauté for 4 minutes on low heat until it softens and becomes translucent. Stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for another minute until the aromatics are fragrant on low-medium heat.
- Add the tomato paste, stirring frequently as it cooks for 4-6 minutes on low to medium heat, to deepen the flavor and once it begins to caramelize slightly.
Sauce✮⋆˙
- Pour in the chicken broth, followed by the salt, white pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir well to combine, scraping up any caramelized bits for added flavor. Let this simmer for 1 minute to bring all the flavors together.
- Lower the heat and stir in the heavy cream, blending it into the sauce. Allow it to simmer on low-medium heat for another 4 minutes, letting the flavors meld.
Combine✮⋆˙
- Add the grated Parmesan and 1 cup of the reserved pasta water, stirring gently. Before the Parmesan melts entirely, add the al dente pasta. Let everything simmer for 4-5 minutes, stirring , as the cheese melts and the sauce thickly coats each piece of pasta. Adjust with a bit more pasta water if needed – the goal is a creamy sauce that clings to our pasta - not loose and watery.
- Turn off the heat and add the butter, tossing until melted and the pasta has a nice shine.
Lastly✮⋆˙
- Finish with an extra grated Parmesan and fresh basil leaves