Quick Valentine's Day Pink Pasta
A comforting and creamy pink pasta dish that's perfect for a romantic dinner or a festive celebration, made with a simple blend of tomato and cream sauces.
Ingredients
Pasta ingredients
- 8 oz pasta (fettuccine, spaghetti, or your favorite strand pasta)
Sauce ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream Substitute: half-and-half + 2 tbsp butter for a lighter option
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce Substitute: crushed tomatoes for more texture; blend slightly if chunky
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Freshly grated tastes best
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
Cooking Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
Making the Sauce
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30–60 seconds until fragrant—don’t let it brown.
- Pour in the heavy cream and the tomato sauce. Reduce heat to low and warm gently until the sauce is just simmering. Avoid a hard boil to prevent the cream from separating.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss or use tongs to coat the strands in the sauce. If the sauce feels too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it and create a glossy finish.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan until melted and well combined. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
- Serve immediately, garnished with torn fresh basil leaves.
Notes
Salt your pasta water generously (it should taste like the sea) to season the pasta from within. For a brighter pink, increase the tomato sauce by a tablespoon or two; for richer creaminess, add an extra tablespoon of Parmesan.