How to Make a Delicious Garlic Pasta Sauce

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to add a burst of flavor to your pasta, a garlic pasta sauce is the way to go. Made with just a few simple ingredients, this sauce is guaranteed to add some zing to your meal. Plus, it’s a great way to get your daily serving of garlic, which has been shown to have numerous health benefits.

To make a garlic pasta sauce, start by heating up some olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add some chopped garlic and sauté for a minute or two until fragrant. Add some diced tomatoes, salt, and pepper to the pan, and simmer for about ten minutes until the sauce is nice and thick. Pour the sauce over your favorite pasta and enjoy! With just a few simple steps, you can create a delicious and satisfying pasta dish that your family and friends will love.

Gather Your Ingredients

One of the things that make garlic pasta sauce so irresistible is its simplicity. It only requires a handful of ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry. For this recipe, you’ll need:

1. Garlic – 3 cloves, minced
2. Olive oil – 1/4 cup
3. Red pepper flakes – 1/4 teaspoon
4. Salt and pepper – to taste
5. Parmesan cheese – 1/2 cup, grated
6. Butter – 1/4 cup
7. Heavy cream – 1/2 cup

Preparing the Garlic

Peel and mince three cloves of garlic. The size of the minced garlic should be small enough that it’s not overpowering. You don’t want big chunks of garlic in your pasta sauce; it will be too strong. Instead, you’re aiming for a finely minced garlic that will melt into the sauce.

Sautéing the Garlic

Now that your garlic is minced, you’ll need to add it to a pan with olive oil. Heat the olive oil in a pan on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the garlic and red pepper flakes, if using. Sauté until the garlic is lightly golden and fragrant.

The Base of the Sauce

Once your garlic is sautéed, you’ll need to build the base of the sauce. To do this, add the butter to the pan and let it melt completely. Then, sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and combined.

The Creamy Sauce

Now it’s time to add the heavy cream to the pan. Lower the heat to low-medium and let the sauce simmer for a few minutes until it begins to thicken. Be sure to stir the sauce often to prevent it from burning. You want it to thicken just enough to coat the pasta, so don’t let it simmer for too long.

Seasoning the Sauce

Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper as needed. Keep in mind that the Parmesan cheese is already salty, so be sure to taste before adding any extra salt. If you like a spicier sauce, you can add more red pepper flakes at this point as well.

Cooking the Pasta

While your sauce is simmering, you should prepare your pasta. Choose your favourite pasta, follow the package instructions, and cook until al dente. Drain your pasta, saving a small amount of the pasta water just in case you need to thin out the sauce later.

Combining the Pasta and Sauce

Once your pasta is cooked, it’s time to combine it with the sauce. Add the cooked pasta to the pan with the sauce, and use tongs to gently toss the pasta until it’s evenly coated. If the sauce feels too thick, you can add a bit of pasta water to thin it out.

Garnishing the Garlic Pasta Sauce

To finish off your garlic pasta sauce, you can add a few finishing touches. Grate some extra Parmesan cheese on top, and sprinkle some chopped parsley or basil for a pop of colour and flavour. Serve your garlic pasta sauce hot and enjoy!

Ingredients Needed for Garlic Pasta Sauce Recipe

Pasta is a popular dish to many people, and garlic is a staple ingredient in many different cuisines. Combining the two results in an excellent pasta sauce that you can make from scratch right in your kitchen. Making garlic pasta sauce does not require many ingredients, and it’s super easy to make. In this section, we will go through the ingredients that you will need and how to prepare them.

Garlic

Garlic is the star of our recipe, and it’s a must-have ingredient. We recommend using fresh garlic, and you can always adjust the amount you add based on your taste preference. You will need about ten cloves of garlic for this recipe. Peel and chop them up into small pieces, and make sure to remove the green germ if it’s there since it can make your garlic taste bitter.

Butter

Butter adds richness and flavor to the dish, and it’s necessary for making garlic pasta sauce. We recommend using unsalted butter since it gives you more control over the overall saltiness of the sauce. You will need about half a cup of butter for this recipe.

Olive Oil

Olive oil adds fruity, peppery flavor notes to the sauce and helps with the browning of the garlic. We recommend using extra-virgin olive oil for this recipe since it’s the highest quality and will aid in producing the best taste. You will need around one-third cup of olive oil for this recipe.

Red Pepper Flakes

Red pepper flakes add a touch of heat to the sauce and balance the flavors. We recommend using around half to one teaspoon for this recipe.

Chicken Broth

Chicken broth adds depth of flavor and provides a base to the sauce. We recommend using low-sodium chicken broth since it helps you control the level of saltiness. You will need around one cup of chicken broth for this recipe.

Heavy Cream

Heavy cream adds thickness and creaminess to the sauce that perfectly balances the sharp taste of garlic. We recommend using half a cup of heavy cream for this recipe.

Lemon

A squeeze of lemon adds a bright tanginess to the sauce and brings all the flavors together. We recommend using half a lemon for this recipe.

Salt and Pepper

Salt and pepper help to balance the flavors and allow you to adjust the seasoning to your taste. We recommend using freshly cracked black pepper, and about one teaspoon of salt for this recipe.

Fresh Parsley

Fresh parsley adds a slightly sweet and grassy flavor to the sauce. It’s essential to add just before serving, and we recommend using roughly a quarter cup for this recipe.

Pasta of your Choice

You will need Pasta to serve the garlic pasta sauce, and you can use any pasta of your choice. We recommend using spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine since they work best with this sauce.

These are all the ingredients you will need to make a delicious garlic pasta sauce at home. Before we dive into the method of preparing the sauce, make sure you have gathered all the necessary ingredients. With all the ingredients in place, it’s time to make the garlic pasta sauce that will leave you and your loved ones wanting for more.

Making the Garlic Pasta Sauce

After gathering all the necessary ingredients and tools, it is now time to make the garlic pasta sauce. This section will guide you on how to make the perfect and flavorful garlic pasta sauce that will elevate your pasta dish!

Preparing the Garlic

The main star of the garlic pasta sauce is, of course, the garlic! Firstly, peel the garlic cloves and slice them thinly. Make sure that the cloves are evenly sliced to ensure consistent flavor in the sauce. Using a garlic press is also a great option if you don’t have a sharp knife or if you’re in a hurry.

Cooking the Garlic

In a medium-sized saucepan, heat up the olive oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot enough, add the garlic slices and cook for about 3-4 minutes until they are slightly golden brown and fragrant. Be careful not to overcook the garlic as it can burn quickly and will taste bitter.

It is important to ensure you use medium heat, so as not to avoid burning the garlic or the saucepan. Burnt garlic will ruin the taste of the entire sauce, and a burnt saucepan will make cleaning up very difficult!

Making the Sauce

Once the garlic is cooked, add the tomato paste or crushed tomatoes and vegetable or chicken broth to the saucepan. Give the ingredients a good stir so that the tomato paste or crushed tomatoes are well incorporated with the garlic and oil. Then, season the sauce with oregano, basil and salt to taste.

You may add other types of herbs such as thyme or parsley based on your preference and taste. Be creative and experiment with different herbs, but be careful not to over-season or it may overpower the garlic flavor.

Simmering the Sauce

Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes. Simmering allows the flavors of the ingredients to blend together well, and thickens the sauce to a perfect consistency.

If you like a slightly runny sauce, then you can simmer for a shorter period of time. Conversely, if you like a thicker sauce, continue simmering for a little longer.

Serving the Sauce

The garlic pasta sauce is now ready! Pour it over your favourite pasta and mix it well, allowing the sauce to coat every noodle evenly. For added flavour, garnish the pasta with freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil leaves.

Ingredient Table

Enjoy Your Homemade Garlic Pasta Sauce

Congratulations! You’ve just made a delightful homemade garlic pasta sauce. The scent lingering in your kitchen must be so alluring that your family members might want to sneak a taste. You should be proud of yourself; it’s not every day we get to try something new in the kitchen. Thank you so much for taking your time to read this article, and we hope we have inspired you to make your own garlic pasta sauce. Please remember to visit us often for more fantastic cooking tips and guides. Happy cooking!