Description
Marry Me Pasta is a creamy, flavorful pasta dish featuring a rich sun-dried tomato and Parmesan cream sauce, infused with garlic, basil, and a touch of spice. Perfectly coated linguini noodles combine with a luscious sauce that simmers gently to create a comforting and impressive meal that lives up to its romantic name.
Ingredients
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 and 1/2 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, grated
- 2 cups light cream
- 1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon oil from the sun-dried tomato jar
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
Pasta
- 3/4 box thin linguini or other long noodles of choice (about 6 ounces)
- Reserved pasta water, about 1/4 cup
Instructions
- Prepare Sun-Dried Tomato Paste: Finely chop 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes and place them in a blender or food processor. Add 1 tablespoon of oil from the jar and pulse several times, scraping down the container sides, until a coarse paste forms.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the linguini noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve approximately 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the noodles and set aside.
- Start Sauce Base: In a large non-stick pan, melt 1 and 1/2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add grated garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, dried thyme, and chicken bouillon powder. Sauté the mixture for 1 minute to release flavors.
- Add Cream and Heat: Pour in 2 cups light cream and heat the sauce over medium to medium-low heat for about 5 minutes. Maintain a gentle simmer without reaching a boil to prevent curdling.
- Incorporate Cheese and Flavorings: Stir in 1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese, the prepared sun-dried tomato paste, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and chopped fresh basil. Continue to simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Thin the sauce as desired with reserved pasta water. Skim off any excess oil pooling on the surface if preferred.
- Combine Pasta and Serve: Add the cooked linguini noodles to the sauce and toss gently to coat. Turn off the heat and serve immediately. Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- If excessive oil accumulates on the sauce surface from the sun-dried tomatoes, spoon off the extra oil for a smoother sauce.
- This recipe is not fully vegetarian due to the use of chicken bouillon powder.
- To make the dish spicier, increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes.
- If using short pasta, adjust the dry pasta quantity to about 3 cups.
