Creamy Tomato Sauce For Pasta

This creamy tomato sauce is incredibly easy to make using a can of chopped tomatoes. Once you try it, you'll never want to go back to store-bought sauces. The homemade version of creamy marinara sauce is much tastier, with fresh and vibrant flavors that elevate your pasta dishes to a whole new level of deliciousness. 

If your family loves pasta dishes, serve it as a creamy spaghetti sauce and watch how everyone is enjoying their food. Perfect for busy weeknights!

If you like the flavor of tomatoes in your pasta recipes, check out our sun-dried tomato pasta too!

Why You Will Love This Pasta Sauce

1. Tasty: The mix of tomatoes and cream creates a delicious, savory flavor.
2. Versatile: It pairs well with various pasta shapes and types. 
3. Quick: You can prepare this sauce in just a few minutes.
4. Crowd-pleaser: People of all ages enjoy the rich and satisfying taste.

About The Ingredients

Let's dive into the key ingredients of our creamy tomato sauce, each playing a vital role in creating a delicious and well-balanced dish that will leave you craving more. 

• Onion: Adds a sweet and aromatic base flavor, building a great foundation for the sauce.
• Garlic: Infuses the sauce with its signature pungent taste and aroma, enhancing the overall flavor.
• Tomato paste: Concentrated tomato flavor that deepens the sauce's richness and color.
• Canned chopped / diced tomatoes: This is the main ingredient, providing an amazing tomato flavor to the sauce. Make sure to use all the juices in the can. To have a smooth texture, we blend the chopped tomatoes in a blender. You can skip the blending step if you are not after that smoothness. 
• Fresh basil: Adds a touch of herbal brightness, balancing the flavors and giving the sauce a lovely fragrance. You can use dried basil or dried oregano instead.
• Paprika: It adds an extra depth of flavor. You can also add crushed chili (red pepper flakes) to make the tomato sauce a little spicy.
• Heavy cream: Adds a silky, luxurious texture and mellows the acidity of the tomatoes in this pasta sauce. It creates a velvety finish.
• Optional ingredient: Grated Parmesan cheese. It gives the sauce a salty and nutty flavor. We often make this tomato pasta sauce without any cheese to feel the flavor of tomatoes better. Instead, we grate some parmesan cheese on top of our pasta with tomato cream sauce when serving.

How To Make Creamy Red Pasta Sauce

Now that we've introduced the flavorful ingredients, let's walk through the simple steps to create this delectable creamy tomato pasta sauce. 

1. Sauté Onion and Garlic: Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Sauté the diced onion in olive oil until it becomes translucent and tender. Add the garlic, cooking for about a minute while stirring constantly to prevent burning.
2. Add Tomatoes and Seasonings: Mix in the tomato paste, tomato sauce, fresh or dried basil, black pepper, and salt, stirring well to create a smooth and well-combined sauce. Allow it to cook for about 5 minutes.
3. Finish with Cream: Reduce the heat and pour in the cream and continue cooking for another 2 minutes or until the sauce reaches your desired thickness, achieving a rich and velvety consistency.

Optional Parmesan Addition

For a delightful parmesan twist, you can add it in one of two ways:

1. In the tomato cream sauce: Add ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan in the pan along with the cream. Cook them together for 2 minutes and then remove from the heat.
2. On the pasta: Keep the sauce as it is and simply grate some parmesan cheese on top of the pasta when serving for an extra touch of flavor.

How To Toss Pasta With The Sauce

You can use this creamy red pasta sauce with any pasta shape. Our favorites are spaghetti, fettuccine, penne, farfalle and rigatoni. You can even make our best fresh pasta recipe (no machine required) and toss it with this sauce.

1. Cook pasta: Cook the pasta of your choice according to package directions. 
2. Drain pasta: Drain the cooked pasta in a colander, but avoid rinsing it, as this will wash away the starch that helps the sauce adhere to the pasta.
3. Combine pasta and sauce: Add the drained pasta to the pan with the sauce. Alternatively, you can use a large mixing bowl if the pan is not big enough to accommodate the pasta.
4. Toss: Gently toss the pasta with the sauce using a pair of tongs or a large spoon, ensuring that the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce.

And if you want, you can even use this tomato sauce in your favorite lasagna recipe.

Other Serving Suggestions

This tomato cream sauce is incredibly versatile and not limited to just pasta dishes. Here are some delightful serving suggestions to help you explore its full potential: 

1. Protein: Pair the sauce with grilled or baked chicken, shrimp, sausage or meatballs for added heartiness and a complete dish.
2. Vegetables: Mix in sautéed or roasted vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach for added nutrition and flavor.
3. Garnish: Top with fresh basil, chopped parsley, or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for added color, taste, and a touch of heat.

Feel free to mix and match these serving suggestions to create a delicious and satisfying meal tailored to your preferences. And make sure to pair it with a bowl of Turkish shepherd salad or fresh green salad like our arugula fig salad. 

Storage

To store this creamy red pasta sauce, follow these simple steps:

1. Cool down: Allow the sauce to cool to room temperature before storing, as placing hot sauce in the refrigerator can affect the overall temperature and compromise food safety.
2. Use an airtight container: Transfer the sauce to an airtight container, like a glass or plastic container with a tight-fitting lid, to keep it fresh and prevent it from absorbing any unwanted odors from the fridge.
3. Refrigerate: Place the container in the refrigerator, where the sauce can be stored for up to 4-5 days.

Please note that we do not recommend storing tomato cream sauce in the freezer, as it contains heavy cream, which can separate and result in an undesirable texture when thawed and reheated.

When ready to use, gently reheat the sauce in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your desired serving temperature. You may need to add a splash of water or cream to adjust the consistency, as it might thicken slightly during storage.

What Does Heavy Cream Do To Tomato Sauce?

It plays an important role in tomato sauce by contributing to its taste, texture, and balance of flavors. 

1. Enhances texture: It provides a rich, velvety, and smooth consistency to the sauce. 
2. Balances acidity: The creaminess of heavy cream helps neutralize the acidity of the tomatoes.
3. Adds depth of flavor: It lends a slight sweetness and richness to the sauce, making it more complex and satisfying.

Overall, heavy cream transforms a simple tomato sauce into a creamy, luscious, and delectable treat.

Can You Use Milk Instead Of Cream? 

If you need to substitute milk for heavy cream in this sauce, follow these steps to achieve a similar consistency and flavor:

1. Use whole milk: Opt for whole milk, as it has a higher fat content than low-fat or skim milk, resulting in a creamier texture and better resistance to curdling.
2. Warm the milk: Gently warm the milk in a separate saucepan or microwave before adding it to the sauce. This helps prevent curdling due to the temperature difference.
3. Lower the heat: Reduce the heat of the tomato sauce to low before adding the milk, as high heat can cause the milk to curdle.
4. Temper the milk: Gradually whisk a small amount of the hot tomato sauce into the warmed milk to raise its temperature slowly, reducing the risk of curdling when added to the sauce.
5. Add thickening agent: Since milk is thinner than heavy cream, you may need to thicken the sauce. Prepare a roux by melting 1-2 tablespoons of unsalted butter and whisking in an equal amount of flour. Cook for 1-2 minutes, then slowly whisk the roux into the sauce. Alternatively, you can mix 1-2 teaspoons of cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water to create a slurry, and then whisk it into the sauce.
6. Stir constantly: Pour the tempered milk slowly into the tomato sauce, stirring or whisking continuously to ensure even distribution and prevent curdling.
7. Avoid overheating: Cook the sauce on low heat and avoid bringing it to a boil after adding the milk, as excessive heat can cause curdling.

FAQs

Other Pasta Dishes

• Pasta with Oyster Mushroom Sauce
• Pasta with Sun Dried Tomato Sauce
• Parmesan Pasta
• Turkish Pasta Salad

More Tomato-Based Recipes

• Tomato Paste Recipe
• Sun Dried Tomato Sauce
• Turkish Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

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