Description
Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta is a rich, flavorful dish with a creamy sauce made from fresh tomatoes, aromatic basil, and a touch of Parmesan. It’s a quick and easy meal that’s perfect for a comforting dinner, especially during the summer when tomatoes and basil are in season.
Ingredients
8 ounces uncooked pasta
2 tablespoons butter
½ tablespoon flour
3–4 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup dry white wine or chicken/vegetable broth
1 cup heavy/whipping cream
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup basil (torn into pieces) or more, to taste
Salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Boil a salted pot of water for the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente.
- In a skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly for about 1 minute to create a roux.
- Add minced garlic to the skillet, followed by white wine (or broth). Let it bubble and reduce by half, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Whisk in heavy cream, Dijon mustard (if using), and Italian seasoning until smooth and combined.
- Stir in chopped tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Remove skillet from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese and torn basil.
- Drain pasta and toss it with the sauce, adding reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese and basil, if desired.
Notes
- For extra protein, add grilled chicken or shrim.
- For a vegan version, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream or cashew cream and use dairy-free Parmesan.
- Add spinach, zucchini, or roasted bell peppers for more veggies.
- For a spicy version, add red pepper flakes or chopped fresh chili to the sauce.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat with a splash of milk or cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stir-frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
