This Tomato Sauce Pasta is a tasty dish that is new, satisfying, and bursting with amazing flavors. The warm buttered pasta and dense sauce made with garlic and fresh basil are simple to create and will surely become a family favorite.
For other delightful Italian recipes, experiment with our Shrimp Alfredo Pasta and this Margherita Pizza.
Cooking Details
Tomato Sauce Pasta is one of the pasta plates I like the most. I just adore the flavors and silky texture of this sauce. This dish is simple, delicious, and fulfilling – you’re absolutely going to admire it!
- FLAVOR: This sauce features a combination of sweet tomatoes, strong garlic, and fresh basil. And the pasta is full of rich butter and savory Parmesan cheese.
- CONSISTENCY: The tomato sauce is dense and velvety, completely covering the al dente pasta.
- TIME: It takes about 30 minutes to prepare.
- EASE: This is a simple recipe to make. The sauce requires just a handful of ingredients and it can be prepared in advance for convenience.
Necessary Ingredients
Notes on Ingredients
- Canned whole peeled tomatoes- These are processed until smooth, which is made easier because they’re peeled. Tomato skins would not break down as well.
- Basil- Dried basil can add some flavor, but fresh herbs will really punch up the flavor in this sauce.
- Sugar- Adding a little sugar to the sauce will cut the acidity of the tomatoes and balance out the flavors.
Additions and Replacements
- Choose a different kind of pasta- Spaghetti, angel hair, linguine, fettucine, penne, bowtie, or even gluten-free pasta can be used.
- Include some spiciness- Introduce red pepper flakes to this sauce for a hint of heat.
- Replace fresh tomatoes- Fresh San Marzano tomatoes can be used in place of the canned peeled tomatoes for this sauce.
- Prepare it without dairy- Plant-based butter and Parmesan cheese can be used to create a dairy-free and vegan version of this dish.
Preparation of Tomato Sauce Pasta
- Prepare the onion and garlic. Dice half a yellow onion and finely chop the garlic cloves.
- Cook the ingredients. Place the minced garlic and onion in a pan with extra virgin olive oil. Over medium heat, mix the ingredients until the onion becomes translucent.
- Blend the tomatoes. Use a blender to puree the whole peeled tomatoes until they are smooth, around 5 pulses.
- Add the tomatoes. Pour the tomato sauce into the pan and stir over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes.
- Season the sauce. Add the sugar, salt, and basil leaves. Cook for another 5 minutes.
Pro Tip: Do not overcook the sauce. We want to only cook it long enough to blend the flavors and allow them to release their best flavors, but too much will spoil it.
- Prepare the pasta. Cook the spaghetti in salted water, drain, and mix with unsalted butter.
- Present the Pasta. Add the pasta to the Tomato Sauce and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. Then serve.
Cooking Tips
- Properly cook the garlic and onion- These two ingredients along with the basil contribute to an aromatic and tasty sauce. Let them cook sufficiently to release all their sweet, strong flavor.
- Cook the pasta al dente- This is a dense sauce and you don’t want the pasta to be mushy under its weight.
- Avoid rinsing the pasta- Doing this will wash away the starch on the noodles, making it difficult for the sauce to adhere to them.
- Add butter to the pasta- We don’t use much, but it goes a long way in giving this Tomato Sauce Pasta a delightful buttery richness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pomodoro sauce and marinara have some resemblances, but pomodoro tends to be denser with pureed whole tomatoes as its base, while marinara is usually made with red pepper flakes and oregano and has a thinner consistency.
Yes, you can. Even though Pomodoro sauce is denser than marinara sauce, it tastes delightful on pizza and flatbreads.
Ideas for Serving
This Pasta Pomodoro recipe is great with so many other dishes. Its versatility makes it ideal to serve with appetizers, breads, and topped with proteins.
- Breads: Serve this with Garlic Cheese Bread, Focaccia Bread, Rustic Bread (overnight), or Copycat Pizza Hut Breadsticks.
- Salads: This Pasta Pomodoro is delicious with an Antipasto Salad, Caprese Salad, Smoked Salmon Salad, or Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad.
- Appetizers: Begin the meal with some Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings, Smoked Salmon Appetizer (VIDEO), Crab Stuffed Mushrooms, or Eggplant Roll-ups.
- Meats/Seafood: Top this Pasta Pomodoro with some Baked Shrimp, Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breast, Homemade Meatballs, or Panko Crusted Salmon.
Prepare This Recipe in Advance
Prepare in advance: Make the pomodoro sauce a few days ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Storing: To store your Pasta Pomodoro, place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last for up to a week. To reheat it, place the leftover pasta and sauce in a pan and warm over medium heat, stirring often. Add some extra sauce since pasta tends to absorb sauce in the refrigerator. You can also reheat this in the microwave for a few minutes.
Freeze: You can freeze the sauce for a 3-4 months in ziplock freezer bags, then defrost it before adding it to fresh pasta.
More Delectable Italian Dishes!
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Simple Pasta Primavera
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Lobster Ravioli
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Spaghetti and Meatballs
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Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Complete Recipe Instructions
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Servings: 4
Calories: 423kcal
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Include 1/2 small diced onion and 2 minced garlic cloves to a pan filled with 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil over medium flame.
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Stir the diced onion and garlic until the onion turns translucent.
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Now add 1 (28 oz) can of entire peeled San Marzano tomatoes into a blender and pulse it roughly 5 times.
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Add the puréed tomatoes to the pan and stir over medium-low flame for about 15 minutes.
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Add 1/4 teaspoon of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 5 sliced basil leaves. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.
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Meanwhile, boil 1/2 pound of spaghetti pasta in salted water.
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Once it’s cooked, drain the water and mix in with approximately 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter.
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Add the pasta to the Pomodoro sauce along with 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan.
Calories: 423kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g
“` | Protein: 9g | Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 289mg | Potassium: 520mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 410IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 3mg
