Simple, practical, and full of everyday flavour, Easy Creamy Tomato Pasta (Using Tomato Paste) is a vegetarian Italian main course, side dish made with uncooked pasta, olive oil, and butter in about 20 minutes. The recipe lays out the ingredients and each cooking step clearly, so you can adjust seasoning, texture, and serving size for your own kitchen.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 5 minutes
  • Cook time: 15 minutes
  • Total time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 3
  • Category: Main Course, Side Dish
  • Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 2-2 1/2 cups uncooked pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 3-4 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 1/2 cup onion ((or shallot), finely chopped)
  • 6 tablespoons organic tomato paste
  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning ((or dried oregano))
  • 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
  • salt & pepper (to taste)
  • 1/4-1/2 cup reserved pasta water
  • 2-3 tablespoons fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese ((parmesan or any cheese))
  • Optional: sautéed veggies (mushrooms, bell peppers, broccoli and sweet corn)

Method

  1. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve some pasta water and drain.
  2. In a pan, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and diced onion, and cook until the onions turn translucent. Next, you may also add 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes and cook until soft. I did not use it in this recipe.
  3. Add tomato paste and sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour in the heavy whipping cream and seasonings such as Italian seasoning, red chili flakes, and salt & pepper. Let it simmer for a minute or till the sauce thickens. If the sauce is a little tangy, add a pinch of sugar if desired. Note: Do not substitute whole milk for heavy cream in this recipe. The acidity from the tomato paste can cause the milk to curdle.
  4. Add the cooked pasta to the tomato cream sauce, reserved pasta water, and toss to combine. If the sauce is too thick, add some more reserved pasta water.
  5. Turn off the heat. Stir in cheese (of your choice) and fresh basil or parsley along with the pasta.
  6. Serve hot with extra cheese on top, garlic bread, or a simple salad.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.