Fettuccine with Creamy Tomato Garlic Sauce

Ingredients

• Fettuccine — 260 g
• Butter — 1 tbsp
• Parsley, finely chopped — 1 tbsp
• Parmesan for serving (grated)

Steps

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the fettuccine according to package directions until al dente; before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta — do not rinse.
2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the creamy tomato sauce (see sub-recipe “Creamy Tomato Sauce”).
3. Add the cooked fettuccine to the pan with the sauce and stir for 1–2 minutes, adding pasta water as needed, until the sauce is silky and coats the pasta.
4. Remove the pan from the heat, add the butter and stir until glossy; add lemon juice (to taste) and stir again.
5. Serve the pasta topped with grated Parmesan, finely chopped parsley, and optionally, additional Calabrian chili paste or chili flakes.

Creamy Tomato Sauce

• Good quality olive oil — 2 tbsp
• Garlic, thinly sliced — 6 pcs
• Yellow onion, diced — 1 pcs
• Cherry tomatoes, halved — 1 cup
• Tomato paste — 2 tbsp
• Calabrian chili paste — 1 tbsp
• Heavy cream, unsweetened — 1 cup
• Salt
• Black pepper, ground
• Cheddar, grated — 0.5 cup
• Pasta water — 1 cup
• Parmesan, freshly grated — 0.5 cup

1. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, warm the olive oil, add the thinly sliced garlic, and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
2. Add the diced onion and cook for 4–5 minutes until soft and translucent.
3. Add the cherry tomatoes and cook for another 4–5 minutes, gently pressing some of the tomatoes with a spoon to release their juices.
4. Add the tomato paste and Calabrian chili paste, sauté for 2–3 minutes, stirring constantly.
5. Pour in 1/2 cup of the pasta water and stir, reduce heat, and slowly pour in the heavy cream, stirring constantly; simmer on low heat for another 2–3 minutes.
6. Season the sauce with salt and black pepper, reduce the heat, and gradually add the grated cheddar, then the Parmesan, stirring until the cheeses are fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
7. If needed, add additional pasta water little by little until the sauce is silky and coats the pasta well.