Description
This Spicy Tomato Garlic Confit Pasta is a flavorful and comforting dish featuring slow-cooked garlic in olive oil, combined with a spicy tomato sauce and tossed with al dente pasta. Enhanced with fresh basil and optional Parmesan cheese, it’s an ideal recipe for garlic lovers seeking a zesty and aromatic meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Garlic Confit
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 8 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
Tomato Sauce
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Pasta
- 12 oz spaghetti or your preferred pasta
Finishing Touches
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare garlic confit: Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C). In a small oven-safe dish, combine the olive oil, peeled garlic cloves, and red pepper flakes.
- Slow cook garlic: Place the dish in the oven and cook for 1 hour until the garlic cloves are soft and golden, infusing the oil with rich flavor.
- Mash garlic: Remove the garlic cloves from the oil carefully and mash them lightly with a fork to incorporate texture into the sauce.
- Prepare tomato sauce: Heat a saucepan over medium heat and add the crushed tomatoes, mashed garlic, and some of the infused confit oil. Let it simmer for 10–15 minutes, seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Cook pasta: Cook the spaghetti or preferred pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Combine the cooked pasta with the spicy tomato garlic sauce in the saucepan. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen and evenly coat the pasta with the sauce.
- Add fresh herbs and oil: Stir in the chopped fresh basil and drizzle with some of the garlic confit oil for added flavor and richness.
- Serve: Plate the pasta hot and top with grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy your aromatic and spicy tomato garlic confit pasta!
Notes
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to heat preference.
- Use freshly peeled garlic for best flavor and texture.
- You can substitute spaghetti with any long pasta like linguine or fettuccine.
- Reserve pasta water is useful for adjusting sauce consistency.
- Parmesan cheese is optional and can be omitted for a dairy-free version.
- Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
