Easy Creamy Tomato Rigatoni (Printable Version)
Sweet cherry tomatoes simmered with cream and smoked paprika coat rigatoni in a luscious, quick sauce.
# Ingredients:
→ Produce
01 -
3 cloves garlic, minced
02 -
500 g cherry tomatoes, halved
03 -
15 g fresh Italian parsley, chopped
→ Pantry
04 -
30 ml extra virgin olive oil
05 -
2 tsp granulated sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
06 -
2 tbsp tomato paste
07 -
1 tsp smoked paprika
08 -
15 g all-purpose flour
→ Alcohol
09 -
60 ml dry white wine
→ Dairy
10 -
120 ml heavy cream
11 -
40 g freshly grated Parmesan cheese
→ Pasta
12 -
320 g rigatoni
→ Seasonings
13 -
Salt, to taste
14 -
Black pepper, to taste
# Steps:
01 -
Mince garlic finely and halve the cherry tomatoes to ensure even cooking.
02 -
Heat extra virgin olive oil over medium heat, add garlic with a pinch of salt, and cook for 5 minutes until fragrant and golden.
03 -
Add halved cherry tomatoes and a pinch of salt; simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes until tomatoes begin to break down naturally and release sweetness.
04 -
Pour in dry white wine to deglaze the pan, reduce for 5 minutes, then stir in smoked paprika, tomato paste, and sugar if using for balanced acidity.
05 -
Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream. Create a slurry by mixing all-purpose flour with a small amount of cold water, then slowly whisk into the sauce. Simmer gently for 5 to 10 minutes until sauce thickens to desired consistency.
06 -
In a separate pot, cook rigatoni in salted boiling water until al dente, according to package instructions. Reserve some pasta water before draining.
07 -
Mix cooked rigatoni into the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to adjust consistency. Allow pasta to finish cooking in the sauce for 2 to 3 minutes.
08 -
Remove from heat, stir in grated Parmesan and chopped parsley, and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Let sit covered for 5 minutes before serving to meld flavors.
# Notes:
01 -
Slow simmering of tomatoes develops natural sweetness and depth of flavor.
02 -
Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce thickness for optimal coating.
03 -
Careful toasting of garlic prevents bitterness; maintain medium heat.