Pasta with Tomato-Basil Cream Sauce
 
 
A hearty pasta with tomato-basil cream sauce. Make the sauce ahead of time and you'll have a simple yet delicious weeknight meal.
Yield: 4-6 servings
Ingredients
For the tomato-cream sauce
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 2 (28 oz) cans whole or diced tomatoes
  • kosher salt, to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 5 oz baby kale
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
For the pasta
  • 1 lb dried ziti (or other long skinny pasta)
  • 2 cups tomato-cream sauce
  • 10 fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips
  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
For the tomato-cream sauce
  1. In a large Dutch oven, melt the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add in the onion and carrots. Saute for 15 minutes, or until softened.
  2. Add the tomatoes to the vegetables. If they are whole then crush them with your hands as you put them into the pot. Stir in 1 tsp kosher salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Cover the pot halfway with the lid and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the baby kale in the last 10 minutes of cooking. Remove from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
  3. Pour into a blender and puree until smooth (or use an immersion blender). Add in the cream. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
  4. NOTE - This will make more than you need for the pasta. The extra can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. If freezing, omit the cream and add it when you reheat the sauce.
For the pasta
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and reserve 1 cup of the cooking water.
  2. Return the pasta to the pot and spoon in the tomato sauce, tossing until well combined. Add in the basil and parmesan cheese. Toss again. Add a spoonful or two of the cooking water if necessary to loosen the sauce. Serve immediately with more cheese to garnish.
Notes
Recipe from The Glorious Pasta of Italy
Recipe by Joanne Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/2020/06/pasta-tomato-basil-cream-sauce.html