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Pink Sauce Pasta Recipe

4.6 from 149 reviews

A creamy and flavorful Pink Sauce Pasta that combines a rich tomato-based sauce with cream, milk, and mozzarella cheese for a luscious, comforting meal. Perfectly cooked penne pasta is tossed in a savory sauce infused with garlic, onion, dried basil, and a hint of chili flakes for a subtle kick. This easy-to-make recipe is great for weeknight dinners and can be enhanced by adding shrimp or chicken for extra protein.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 300 g pasta of choice (penne recommended)

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small red onion, minced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1.5 cups tomato passata (or puree or sauce, not tomato paste)
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 chicken bouillon cube, crumbled
  • Pinch sugar
  • Sprinkle of red chili flakes
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/3 to 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and reserve some of the pasta water for adjusting sauce consistency later.
  2. Sauté Aromatics: Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add butter and olive oil. Once the butter melts, add the minced onion and cook for 4-5 minutes until softened. Then add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  3. Prepare Sauce: Stir in tomato passata, dried basil, crumbled chicken bouillon cube, pinch of sugar, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes to develop flavor.
  4. Add Dairy: Pour in the heavy cream and milk, then add the shredded mozzarella cheese. Stir continuously until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes creamy and smooth.
  5. Toss Pasta and Serve: Add the cooked pasta to the sauce, tossing to combine evenly. Warm through for a few minutes. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it up. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • You can add shrimp or chicken for additional protein or serve this pasta alongside steak for a heartier meal.
  • Adjust the amount of red chili flakes according to your preferred spice level.
  • Using fresh mozzarella instead of shredded mozzarella may require a longer melting time but will give a creamier texture.
  • Reserve pasta water is important to adjust the sauce consistency without diluting flavor.

Keywords: pink sauce pasta, creamy pasta, penne pasta recipe, tomato cream pasta, easy pasta dinner, mozzarella pasta sauce