Tomato Basil Bowtie Pasta (Printable)

Vibrant bowtie pasta in a creamy tomato basil sauce. An easy, comforting Italian-inspired dish ready in just 30 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz bowtie (farfalle) pasta

→ Sauce

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes
06 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
07 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
08 - 1 tsp sugar
09 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
10 - 1 tsp salt, plus more for pasta water
11 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Fresh Herbs & Cheese

12 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, sliced
13 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook bowtie pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain pasta.
02 - While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Lower heat and stir in heavy cream. Simmer for 2 minutes until sauce is creamy and slightly thickened.
05 - Add cooked pasta to sauce along with reserved pasta water. Toss to combine thoroughly.
06 - Stir in fresh basil and Parmesan cheese. Cook for 1-2 minutes to meld flavors. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Serve hot, topped with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh basil if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in thirty minutes but tastes like you spent all afternoon in the kitchen.
  • The creamy tomato sauce clings to every bowtie, giving you flavor in every single bite.
  • You probably have most of these ingredients already sitting in your pantry.
  • It's comforting enough for a solo dinner but impressive enough to serve to guests.
02 -
  • Don't skip reserving the pasta water, it's the key to getting the sauce to coat the pasta instead of pooling at the bottom of the bowl.
  • Add the garlic after the onion has softened, garlic burns quickly and turns bitter if it hits the heat too early.
  • Use fresh basil and add it at the end, cooking it too long makes it taste dull and loses that bright, peppery note.
03 -
  • Taste the sauce before adding the pasta and adjust the seasoning then, it's easier to fix while the sauce is on its own.
  • If you love garlic, add an extra clove or two, this dish can handle it and the flavor becomes even more robust.
  • Grate your Parmesan fresh right before using it, the difference in flavor and texture is worth the extra minute.
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