Creamy Pasta WITHOUT Cream?!
Creamy Pasta WITHOUT Cream?!
Ingredients
- 2 tomatoes, whole
- 2 eggplants, whole
- 6 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil, or as needed
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon other powdered savory spices, such as garlic powder, onion powder, or Italian seasoning, or to taste
- 1 piece soft melting cheese, such as string cheese or mozzarella stick
- 12 ounces pasta, linguine or fettuccine style, cooked according to package directions
Instructions
- 1
Add cooking oil to a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Allow the oil to heat up.
⏱️ 2 min
- 2
Carefully place the 2 whole tomatoes into the hot pan using tongs. Add the 2 whole eggplants to the pan alongside the tomatoes. Distribute the 6-8 garlic cloves around the vegetables in the pan.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
Cook the vegetables, turning occasionally, until the tomatoes are softened and their skins begin to loosen. The eggplants should become very soft, and their skins will darken and tenderize. This process can take approximately 15-20 minutes.
⏱️ 18 min
- 4
Using tongs, carefully remove the softened skins from the tomatoes directly in the pan. Discard the skins.
⏱️ 1 min
- 5
Using a potato masher or a sturdy fork, mash the peeled tomatoes directly in the pan until they form a coarse sauce. Then, mash the softened eggplants and garlic directly into the pan, thoroughly mixing them with the mashed tomatoes to form a thick, chunky sauce.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Sprinkle a generous amount of red chili flakes, paprika, and other powdered savory spices over the mashed vegetable mixture. Stir well to combine.
⏱️ 1 min
- 7
Create a small well in the center of the vegetable mixture and add the piece of soft melting cheese (string cheese or mozzarella stick) into it.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Continue to stir and cook the mixture continuously over medium heat until the cheese melts completely and integrates into the vegetable sauce, creating a creamy consistency.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
Add the desired amount of cooked pasta (linguine or fettuccine style) to the creamy sauce in the pan.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Toss the pasta thoroughly with the sauce using tongs or a large spoon until all strands are evenly coated. Serve the creamy pasta immediately.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Pasta WITHOUT Cream?!
- 2 tomatoes, whole
- 2 eggplants, whole
- 6 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil, or as needed
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon other powdered savory spices, such as garlic powder, onion powder, or Italian seasoning, or to taste
- 1 piece soft melting cheese, such as string cheese or mozzarella stick
- 12 ounces pasta, linguine or fettuccine style, cooked according to package directions
Instructions
- 1
Add cooking oil to a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Allow the oil to heat up.
⏱️ 2 min - 2
Carefully place the 2 whole tomatoes into the hot pan using tongs. Add the 2 whole eggplants to the pan alongside the tomatoes. Distribute the 6-8 garlic cloves around the vegetables in the pan.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
Cook the vegetables, turning occasionally, until the tomatoes are softened and their skins begin to loosen. The eggplants should become very soft, and their skins will darken and tenderize. This process can take approximately 15-20 minutes.
⏱️ 18 min - 4
Using tongs, carefully remove the softened skins from the tomatoes directly in the pan. Discard the skins.
⏱️ 1 min - 5
Using a potato masher or a sturdy fork, mash the peeled tomatoes directly in the pan until they form a coarse sauce. Then, mash the softened eggplants and garlic directly into the pan, thoroughly mixing them with the mashed tomatoes to form a thick, chunky sauce.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Sprinkle a generous amount of red chili flakes, paprika, and other powdered savory spices over the mashed vegetable mixture. Stir well to combine.
⏱️ 1 min - 7
Create a small well in the center of the vegetable mixture and add the piece of soft melting cheese (string cheese or mozzarella stick) into it.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Continue to stir and cook the mixture continuously over medium heat until the cheese melts completely and integrates into the vegetable sauce, creating a creamy consistency.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
Add the desired amount of cooked pasta (linguine or fettuccine style) to the creamy sauce in the pan.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Toss the pasta thoroughly with the sauce using tongs or a large spoon until all strands are evenly coated. Serve the creamy pasta immediately.
⏱️ 1 min