Pasta with Sweet Red Pepper Sauce is a delightful dish that brings together the vibrant flavors of roasted red peppers, creamy half-and-half, and aromatic garlic. This recipe, designed for both simplicity and flavor, offers a culinary journey that can be enjoyed in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings with friends and family.
To embark on this culinary adventure, preheat your oven to a cozy 375 degrees Fahrenheit, creating the ideal environment for roasting a head of garlic. Simply trim off the tip of the garlic head, allowing its savory essence to permeate the air as it roasts to perfection.
After 15 minutes of roasting, introduce the star ingredient: a large red bell pepper, quartered and ready to impart its sweet, smoky essence to the dish. Accompanying the pepper is half of a yellow onion, roughly chopped into large pieces, contributing its subtle yet distinct flavor profile to the mix. Allow these ingredients to mingle and intensify in flavor for an additional 15 minutes in the oven, until they reach a tender, caramelized state.
Once the roasting process is complete, transfer the head of garlic to a bowl of ice water. This simple step not only cools the garlic for easy handling but also helps to preserve its creamy texture, ensuring a smooth incorporation into the sauce later on.
Now, it’s time to bring the sauce to life. In a blender, combine the roasted red pepper and onion with approximately half a cup of heavy cream or half-and-half, depending on your desired richness. Blend the mixture until it reaches a velvety-smooth consistency, allowing the flavors to meld together harmoniously.
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt a generous knob of butter, infusing the sauce with its rich, indulgent flavor. Gradually sprinkle in flour, stirring continuously until it takes on a light, golden-brown hue, creating a roux that will serve as the base for our creamy sauce.
Next, pour in another half cup of heavy cream or half-and-half, enriching the sauce with luxurious creaminess and depth of flavor. Retrieve the roasted garlic from its icy bath, gently squeezing the cloves to release their aromatic essence into the blender. Blend once more until the garlic is fully incorporated into the sauce, imparting its mellow, earthy notes to the mix.
Transfer the blended mixture into the saucepan, allowing it to simmer gently over medium heat. Stirring with a whisk, watch as the sauce thickens to a luscious consistency, coating the back of a spoon with its velvety texture.
With the sauce ready to delight the taste buds, it’s time to prepare the pasta of your choice to serve as the perfect canvas for this culinary masterpiece. Whether it’s al dente spaghetti, comforting penne, or delicate linguine, each variety offers a unique texture and shape to complement the sauce.
Plate up your pasta with generous ladles of the sweet red pepper sauce, allowing its vibrant color to tantalize the senses. Pair this dish with a side of garlicky bread, toasted to golden perfection, to soak up every last drop of the decadent sauce.
As you savor each forkful of this delectable pasta with sweet red pepper sauce, you’ll be transported to a culinary paradise where bold flavors and comforting textures unite in perfect harmony. With its effortless preparation and irresistible taste, this recipe is sure to become a beloved favorite in your culinary repertoire.
