Description
Masterful spicy rigatoni pasta delivers robust Italian flavors with creamy tomato sauce and zesty heat. Hearty pasta promises comfort and excitement for home cooks seeking restaurant-quality meals you can confidently create.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) rigatoni pasta
- 28 oz (794 g) canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp (5 g) red chili flakes (adjust to taste)
- Fresh basil for garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook rigatoni until perfectly tender yet firm, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature, releasing aromatic garlic until it becomes translucent and fragrant.
- Pour crushed tomatoes into the skillet, creating a vibrant sauce and allowing it to gently bubble for 5 minutes.
- Lower the heat and introduce heavy cream, stirring smoothly to create a rich, velvety texture for an additional 2 minutes.
- Sprinkle red chili flakes into the sauce, adjusting intensity to personal heat tolerance, and let the mixture simmer for another 2 minutes.
- Transfer drained rigatoni directly into the spicy cream sauce, tossing thoroughly to ensure each pasta tube is lavishly coated.
- Plate the pasta immediately, crowning the dish with delicate fresh basil leaves and a generous shower of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting red chili flakes, perfect for spice-sensitive palates or bold flavor seekers.
- Use high-quality canned San Marzano tomatoes for richer, more authentic sauce flavor and smoother texture.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with Greek yogurt or half-and-half to reduce calories without sacrificing creaminess.
- Experiment with adding protein like grilled chicken, sautéed shrimp, or crispy pancetta to transform this into a more substantial meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 455 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg