Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce (Printable Version)

Whole garlic bulbs roasted until golden and sweet, then blended into a silky tomato-cream sauce with fresh herbs and Parmesan.

# 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)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - 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.
03 - Roast the garlic bulbs in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes until golden and soft. Allow to cool slightly.
04 - Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves from their skins into a bowl and mash to a paste.
05 - Cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
06 - In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
07 - Stir in the mashed roasted garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
08 - Add diced tomatoes, chopped basil, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes to meld flavors.
09 - Stir in butter and heavy cream. Simmer for 2 minutes, then add Parmesan cheese.
10 - Toss the cooked pasta into the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve a creamy consistency.
11 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra basil and Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Insights:

01 -
  • The roasted garlic creates an incredible depth of flavor that tastes like it simmered all day
  • Ready in about an hour but feels like a special occasion meal
  • Adaptable for different diets without losing its soul
02 -
  • The garlic needs to cool slightly before squeezing, otherwise you will burn your fingers every single time like I did the first attempt.
  • Pasta water is not optional here. It transforms the sauce from merely good to restaurant quality.
  • The sauce thickens quickly off the heat, so do not over reduce it while simmering.
03 -
  • Wrap the garlic bulbs tightly so none of those precious oils escape during roasting
  • Do not rush the onion step. Properly translucent onions create a smoother sauce base
  • Let the sauce rest for a minute off the heat before tossing with pasta for better coating
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