Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce (Printable Version)

Whole garlic bulbs roasted until sweet and golden, blended into a creamy, aromatic coating for pasta.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 3 large whole garlic bulbs
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
04 - 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped

→ Dairy

05 - 1/4 cup heavy cream
06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
07 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Pantry

08 - 12 oz dried pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine)
09 - 2 tbsp olive oil
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Slice the tops off the garlic bulbs to expose the cloves. Place each bulb on a piece of foil, drizzle with olive oil, and wrap tightly.
03 - Roast the garlic bulbs in the oven for 35-40 minutes until golden and soft. Allow to cool slightly.
04 - Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves from their skins into a bowl and mash to a paste.
05 - Cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
06 - In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
07 - Stir in the mashed roasted garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
08 - Add the diced tomatoes, basil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 8-10 minutes to blend flavors.
09 - Stir in the butter and cream. Simmer for 2 minutes, then add the Parmesan cheese.
10 - Toss the cooked pasta into the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed for creaminess. Serve immediately, garnished with extra basil and Parmesan.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Roasting transforms sharp garlic into something sweet and mellow that even self-proclaimed garlic haters love
  • The sauce comes together faster than delivery would arrive, but tastes like you spent all day cooking
02 -
  • Do not rush the garlic roasting step because that transformation from sharp to sweet is the whole magic of this dish
  • The pasta water is actually crucial for getting that restaurant-quality silky texture that clings to every strand
03 -
  • If the garlic cloves are large, give them an extra 5 minutes in the oven to ensure they are completely soft
  • Use a microplane to grate the Parmesan finely so it melts instantly into the sauce
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