Luxuriously creamy pasta with tangy sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Parmesan, and fresh basil in every bite.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz penne or rigatoni
02 - Salt, to taste for pasta water
→ Sauce
03 - 2 tbsp olive oil (preferably from sun-dried tomato jar)
04 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced
06 - 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
07 - 3/4 cup heavy cream
08 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1/4 cup reserved pasta cooking water
10 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
11 - Salt, to taste
→ Garnish
12 - 1 handful fresh basil leaves, torn
13 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese
# Step-by-step Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water before draining.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until aromatic.
03 - Incorporate sun-dried tomatoes and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes to develop flavors.
04 - Reduce heat to low. Add heavy cream and stir to combine. Simmer for 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
05 - Add drained pasta and reserved cooking water to the skillet. Toss thoroughly to coat pasta with sauce.
06 - Sprinkle grated Parmesan over pasta and toss again until sauce is creamy and evenly distributed.
07 - Adjust seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
08 - Serve immediately garnished with torn fresh basil leaves and additional Parmesan cheese.
