Creamy Tomato and Red Wine Cavatelli Delight

Ingredients

- 1 lb Cavatelli pasta
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 1 can (14.5 oz) pureed or crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped

Instructions

1. Boil the Pasta:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cavatelli pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
Estimated time: PT12M
12 minutes

2. Sauté the Aromatics:
In a large skillet or saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, cooking for an additional minute.

3. Build the Sauce:
Add the tomato paste to the skillet, stirring constantly until it slightly caramelizes and darkens in color, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle in the Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper flakes, stirring well.

4. Deglaze with Wine:
Carefully pour in the dry red wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer until the wine is reduced by half, approximately 3 minutes.

5. Add Tomatoes and Simmer:
Stir in the pureed or crushed tomatoes and sugar. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Let the sauce simmer for 10-15 minutes to thicken and develop flavors.
Estimated time: PT15M
15 minutes

6. Finish with Cream and Parmesan:
Reduce the heat to low and gently stir in the heavy cream until well combined, followed by the grated Parmesan cheese. If the sauce gets too thick, adjust the consistency by adding reserved pasta water, a little at a time.

7. Combine with Pasta:
Add the cooked cavatelli to the skillet, tossing to coat evenly with the sauce. Allow it to absorb the flavors for another 2-3 minutes over low heat.

8. Garnish and Serve:
Remove from heat and sprinkle freshly chopped parsley leaves over the pasta. Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.

Total Time

PT40M
40 minutes

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

Pasta, Cavatelli, Tomato Sauce, Red Wine, Creamy Pasta, Italian Cuisine, Homemade Pasta, Easy Dinner, Comfort Food, Vegetarian

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total Calories: 2,400

#PastaLovers #ItalianDinner #CreamyTomatoPasta #EasyRecipes #HomemadeComfortFood