Smooth Penne with Bell Pepper Cream

Smooth Penne with Bell Pepper Cream is a creamy and colorful first course. Here is a simple recipe to make it:

Ingredients

• 350 g of smooth penne
• 2 red bell peppers
• 2 yellow bell peppers
• 1 small onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• 150 ml of cooking cream or vegetable alternative
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
• Grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese (optional)

Preparation

1. Clean the bell peppers by removing the stem, seeds, and white inner strands, then cut them into pieces.

2. In a pan, sauté the finely chopped onion and garlic in extra virgin olive oil until they become translucent.

3. Add the pieces of bell pepper and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until they soften.

4. Remove the garlic and transfer the bell peppers and onion to a blender, or use an immersion blender to turn everything into a smooth cream.

5. Put the bell pepper cream back into the pan and add the cream, adjust for salt and pepper. Cook over low heat for a few minutes until you obtain a homogeneous sauce.

6. In the meantime, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the smooth penne until al dente.

7. Drain the pasta reserving some of the cooking water and add it to the bell pepper cream; if necessary, use the cooking water to achieve the desired consistency.

8. Mix well and let the pasta flavor up for a minute.

Serve hot garnished with fresh basil and, if you wish, a sprinkle of grated cheese for an extra savory note. This dish brings the sweet flavor of bell peppers to the table, enriched with a wrapping creaminess. Enjoy your meal!