Description
This Roasted Tomato Garlic Pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring slow-roasted tomatoes and garlic that create a rich, creamy sauce without cream. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal or impressing guests, it combines simple pantry staples with a gourmet twist, delivering bold, layered flavors and a velvety texture that coats every strand of pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 lbs fresh ripe tomatoes (Roma or cherry), halved or quartered
- 6–8 garlic cloves, unpeeled
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 12 oz pasta of choice (spaghetti, linguine, or other long pasta)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Parmesan cheese (optional), for serving
Instructions
- Prepare and Roast Tomatoes and Garlic: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Slice the tomatoes into halves or quarters depending on size and separate garlic cloves but leave them unpeeled. Place them on a baking sheet, drizzle generously with olive oil, and sprinkle salt and pepper. Roast for 25-30 minutes until tomatoes are soft and caramelized, and garlic becomes creamy inside the skin.
- Cook the Pasta: While the tomatoes roast, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Create the Sauce: Squeeze the roasted garlic from its skins into a blender or bowl with the roasted tomatoes. Blend or mash gently to form a chunky sauce. Add a drizzle of olive oil and some reserved pasta water gradually until the sauce reaches a silky, saucy consistency.
- Combine Pasta with Sauce: Toss the cooked pasta in the tomato-garlic sauce to coat evenly. Add additional pasta water or olive oil if needed to achieve the perfect smoothness. Mix in fresh chopped basil or parsley for a bright, herbal contrast.
- Final Touches: Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately with a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese if using, and finish with a drizzle of olive oil.
Notes
- Choose ripe, juicy tomatoes for natural sweetness and vibrant color.
- Roasting garlic mellows sharpness and adds rich creaminess to the sauce.
- Reserve pasta water to loosen and help sauce cling to pasta.
- Add fresh herbs at the end to preserve their bright flavor.
- Serve the pasta immediately for best texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg