Description
A creamy and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender courgettes, ripe tomatoes, and aromatic oregano, all brought together with rich double cream and topped with nutty Grana Padano cheese. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Sauce
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 courgette, finely chopped
- 1 tsp chilli flakes (optional)
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 400g can chopped tomatoes
- 150ml double cream
- 15g oregano, chopped
For the Pasta
- 400g penne
- 50g Grana Padano, grated
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and garlic, cooking for about 5 minutes until they are just softened and fragrant.
- Add Vegetables and Tomatoes: Stir in the chopped courgette and optional chilli flakes. Add 2 tablespoons of tomato purée and the canned chopped tomatoes. Mix well and cook for an additional 8 to 10 minutes until the courgette is tender and cooked through.
- Cook the Pasta: While the sauce simmers, cook 400g of penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving a little of the pasta cooking water, and set aside.
- Incorporate Cream and Herbs: Reduce the heat on the tomato sauce to low. Stir in 150ml of double cream and warm through for 5 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly. Season the sauce well with salt and pepper, then add the chopped oregano and stir to combine.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the sauce along with a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce. Toss everything well to ensure all the pasta is coated evenly.
- Serve: Serve the pasta topped with 50g of grated Grana Padano cheese. Enjoy warm.
Notes
- You can omit the chilli flakes if you prefer a milder flavor.
- For a lighter version, substitute double cream with half-fat crème fraîche or a cream alternative.
- Reserve some pasta water as it helps in adjusting the sauce consistency and aids in coating the pasta evenly.
- Grana Padano cheese can be replaced with Parmesan if unavailable.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: tomato pasta, cream pasta, courgette pasta, oregano pasta, vegetarian pasta, Italian pasta recipe
