Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce (Print version)

A silky, aromatic sauce featuring whole roasted garlic bulbs blended with cream and fresh basil for an elegant yet simple pasta dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 3 large whole garlic bulbs
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
04 - 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped (plus extra for garnish)

→ Dairy

05 - 1/4 cup heavy cream
06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
07 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)

→ Pantry

08 - 12 oz dried pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine)
09 - 2 tbsp olive oil (plus extra for drizzling)
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Slice the tops off the garlic bulbs to expose the cloves. Place each bulb on a piece of foil, drizzle with olive oil, and wrap tightly.
02 - Roast the garlic bulbs in the oven for 35–40 minutes until golden and soft. Allow to cool slightly.
03 - Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves from their skins into a bowl and mash to a paste.
04 - Meanwhile, cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
05 - In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
06 - Stir in the mashed roasted garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
07 - Add the diced tomatoes, basil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Simmer for 8–10 minutes to blend flavors.
08 - Stir in the butter and cream. Simmer for 2 minutes, then add the Parmesan cheese.
09 - Toss the cooked pasta into the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed for creaminess.
10 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra basil and Parmesan.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The roasting process completely transforms garlic from its sharp bite to a mellow sweetness that even garlic-skeptics find irresistible.
  • It looks fancy enough for company but secretly requires minimal effort while the oven does most of the work.
02 -
  • The pasta water is absolutely non-negotiable I once skipped this step thinking it wouldnt matter and ended up with sauce that slid right off the pasta instead of coating it beautifully.
  • Let your garlic cool just enough to handle comfortably but not completely the residual warmth helps it mash more easily into that smooth paste that distributes evenly through the sauce.
03 -
  • For an even deeper flavor profile, add a Parmesan rind to the sauce while it simmers then fish it out before serving its my favorite kitchen scrap that transforms anything it touches.
  • The sauce will thicken as it cools so always finish the pasta slightly looser than you think it should be especially if youre planning for leftovers.
Go back