Tomato Garlic Ricotta Penne With Basil (Printer-Friendly)
Creamy penne pasta with garlicky tomato sauce, fresh ricotta, and fragrant basil leaves.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 14 oz penne pasta
→ Sauce
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
05 - 28 oz crushed tomatoes (2 cans)
06 - 1 tsp sugar
07 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Cheese & Herbs
09 - 7 oz ricotta cheese
10 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
11 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
# How-To Steps:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain.
02 - While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and onion; sauté 2–3 minutes until soft and fragrant.
03 - Stir in crushed tomatoes, sugar, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Simmer 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Add the drained penne to the sauce. Toss well, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed for a silky consistency.
05 - Gently fold in ricotta cheese, half the basil, and grated Parmesan. Cook 1–2 minutes until everything is heated through.
06 - Divide among serving plates. Top with remaining basil and extra Parmesan.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The way creamy ricotta melts into the bright tomato sauce creates the most dreamy texture without any heavy cream
- Everything comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
02 -
- That splash of pasta water is the secret to restaurant quality sauce at home, the starch helps everything cling together
- Reserve the water before draining, I have forgotten too many times and had to awkwardly scoop some back from the sink
03 -
- Save some pasta water even if you think you will not need it, better to have it standing by
- Let the sauce simmer while the pasta cooks, those extra minutes deepen the flavor