Marry Me Pasta
An unforgettable creamy pasta dish with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil, perfect for a romantic dinner or cozy weeknight meal.
Ingredients
For the Sauce
- 1.5 tablespoons butter For sautéing
- 4 cloves garlic, grated Fresh garlic enhances flavor
- 2 cups light cream Can substitute with half-and-half or cashew cream
- 1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese Freshly grated melts better and enhances flavor
- 0.5 cup sun-dried tomatoes Plus 1 tablespoon oil from the jar
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, finely chopped Can swap with other herbs
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder
- 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon pepper
- 0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper Adjust for spice level
- 3/4 box thin linguini or other long noodle About 3 cups of dry if using short noodles
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water To adjust sauce consistency
Instructions
Preparation
- Finely chop 1/2 cup of sun-dried tomatoes. Combine them with 1 tablespoon of the jar's oil in a blender. Pulse until you have a coarse paste.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Reserve about 1/4 cup of pasta water before draining.
Cooking
- In a large non-stick skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the grated garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, dried thyme, and chicken bouillon powder. Sauté for about 1 minute to release the flavors.
- Pour in the light cream and let it simmer gently for 5 minutes, being careful not to boil.
- Add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, the sun-dried tomato paste, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and fresh basil. Stir everything and allow the sauce to thicken for 5-7 minutes, adjusting with reserved pasta water as needed.
- Add the cooked noodles to the sauce and toss well to coat. Turn off the heat and garnish with extra Parmesan before serving.
Notes
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of cream or reserved pasta water as needed.