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Pasta with Roast Tomato Sauce

17/11/2023

Preparing pasta with roast tomato sauce is a delicious way to enhance the flavor of tomatoes through the caramelization that occurs in the oven. I’ll give you the recipe for an Italian variant of this dish.

Ingredients

  • 500 g of pasta of your choice (spaghetti, penne or rigatoni work well)
  • 600 g of ripe tomatoes (San Marzano or cherry tomatoes type)
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic
  • A bunch of fresh basil
  • 4-5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Ground black pepper to taste
  • Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • A pinch of sugar (if necessary)

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  2. Wash the tomatoes and cut them in half (if small) or in quarters (if large). If you’re using cherry tomatoes, you might leave them whole.
  3. Arrange the tomatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Add the unpeeled garlic cloves (you will be able to peel them easily after baking).
  4. Sprinkle the tomatoes and garlic with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. If the tomatoes are not particularly sweet, add a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity.
  5. Roast the tomatoes in the oven for approximately 25-30 minutes or until they are soft and lightly caramelized.
  6. While the tomatoes are in the oven, bring a pot of abundant salted water to a boil to cook the pasta.
  7. Drain the tomatoes of excess oil and peel them if necessary. Then, transfer them to a bowl and crush them with a fork or a food mill to obtain a rustic sauce.
  8. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente.
  9. Drain the pasta, reserving a cup of the pasta water.
  10. Return the pasta to the pot. Add the roast tomato sauce and a bit of the pasta water to achieve the desired sauce consistency. Stir well to combine.
  11. Add hand-torn basil and adjust salt and pepper if necessary.
  12. Serve immediately, with a sprinkle of Parmesan if desired.

Curiosity

Roast tomato sauce has a deeper flavor profile compared to that made with raw tomatoes, as the oven heat concentrates the tomatoes’ juices by eliminating excess water and intensifies their sweet taste and rustic authenticity.