Description
A luscious Italian-inspired Rose Shrimp Pasta featuring a creamy pink sauce made from tomato sauce, heavy cream, and a blend of fragrant Italian seasonings. This quick and easy recipe combines perfectly cooked pasta with a rich, velvety sauce and is finished with parmesan cheese and fresh herbs for a comforting yet elegant meal.
Ingredients
Pasta
- Pasta of your choice – 200 grams (for 2 servings)
Sauce
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp chopped onion
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
Garnish
- Shredded parmesan cheese – about ¼ cup
- Fresh parsley or cilantro for garnishing – 1-2 tbsp chopped
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before setting the pasta aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the minced onion and garlic, sautéing until fragrant and translucent, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Add Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste with the onions and garlic, allowing it to cook and blend for 1-2 minutes to deepen the flavor.
- Season Sauce: Sprinkle in oregano and add salt and pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Prepare Pink Sauce: Reduce heat to low and pour in tomato sauce, heavy cream, and Italian seasoning. Stir continuously until the sauce takes on a pink hue and thickens slightly. Let it simmer gently for 3-4 minutes to develop flavors.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing gently to coat each noodle with the pink sauce. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle shredded parmesan cheese over the pasta and toss again to incorporate and melt the cheese within the sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Transfer to serving plates and garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
- Use pasta shapes like penne, fettuccine, or linguine for best results.
- You can add cooked shrimp for protein to make it a complete meal.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to control spice level.
- Use freshly grated parmesan for better flavor and melting quality.
- Fresh herbs enhance aroma and presentation; parsley or cilantro are both great options.
