Spicy Rigatoni
Spicy Rigatoni
Ingredients
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 6 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup pasta water, reserved from cooking pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup unsweetened heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 pack rigatoni pasta, 8 ounce pack
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for garnish
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the 1 finely diced onion and 6 minced fresh garlic cloves. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion and garlic are softened and yellowed, which will take approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Add 3 tablespoons of tomato paste to the skillet. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the paste turns a brick red color and begins to caramelize. This typically takes about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Stir in 1 cup of pasta water, 1 teaspoon of salt (or to taste), 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1 tablespoon of red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 1 min
- 4
Pour 1 cup of unsweetened heavy whipping cream into the sauce mixture and mix well to combine.
⏱️ 1 min
- 5
In a separate large pot, heat 3 quarts of salted water until it comes to a rolling boil. Add 1/2 of an 8-ounce pack of rigatoni pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, or for about 12 minutes.
⏱️ 12 min
- 6
Once the pasta is cooked, drain it thoroughly, making sure to reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before discarding the rest.
⏱️ 1 min
- 7
Add the drained rigatoni pasta directly to the skillet containing the spicy sauce. Reduce the burner heat to low and stir in 2 tablespoons of butter until it is fully melted and incorporated into the sauce.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
If the sauce appears too thick, add more of the reserved pasta water, a little at a time, until the desired consistency is achieved.
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
Stir in 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Taste the pasta and sauce, and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Serve the spicy rigatoni immediately, topped with more freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh parsley, if desired, for garnish.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Spicy Rigatoni
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 6 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup pasta water, reserved from cooking pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup unsweetened heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 pack rigatoni pasta, 8 ounce pack
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for garnish
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the 1 finely diced onion and 6 minced fresh garlic cloves. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion and garlic are softened and yellowed, which will take approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Add 3 tablespoons of tomato paste to the skillet. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the paste turns a brick red color and begins to caramelize. This typically takes about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Stir in 1 cup of pasta water, 1 teaspoon of salt (or to taste), 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1 tablespoon of red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 1 min - 4
Pour 1 cup of unsweetened heavy whipping cream into the sauce mixture and mix well to combine.
⏱️ 1 min - 5
In a separate large pot, heat 3 quarts of salted water until it comes to a rolling boil. Add 1/2 of an 8-ounce pack of rigatoni pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, or for about 12 minutes.
⏱️ 12 min - 6
Once the pasta is cooked, drain it thoroughly, making sure to reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before discarding the rest.
⏱️ 1 min - 7
Add the drained rigatoni pasta directly to the skillet containing the spicy sauce. Reduce the burner heat to low and stir in 2 tablespoons of butter until it is fully melted and incorporated into the sauce.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
If the sauce appears too thick, add more of the reserved pasta water, a little at a time, until the desired consistency is achieved.
⏱️ 1 min - 9
Stir in 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Taste the pasta and sauce, and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Serve the spicy rigatoni immediately, topped with more freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh parsley, if desired, for garnish.
⏱️ 1 min