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Pasta with Easy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

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Pasta with Easy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce | gimmesomeoven.com

I am soooo over snow days. Kansas City was essentially shut down for about 4 days last week, and then with yet another snowfall yesterday, I think it’s safe to say our entire city is probably snow day-ed out.

BUT.

I have to admit that there is one value that seems to come from being snowed in for multiple days in a row: the obligatory snowed-in pantry cleaning/scavenging. I found all sorts of little treasures hidden in my pantry this week that I had forgotten about, notably enough beans to last half a century, yet again!  (Get ready for more bean recipes coming soon!)  But the first little treasure I had to put to use was a jar of roasted red peppers. I always throw a few in my cart whenever I see them on sale because they’re pretty much good in everything. Yes, yes, I know that you can make homemade roasted red peppers. But the jarred version is pretty darn convenient, and pretty darn good if you ask me.

So I decided to make a simple roasted red pepper sauce to pair with my surplus stash of whole wheat pasta. It is one of my favorite quick and easy sauces to make for pastas, veggies, lasagna, you name it! I love adding in whatever veggies or protein I have on hand (shrimp and chicken are definite favorites). But, um, I had nothing “on hand” this time and didn’t feel like venturing out in the snow. So you get the classic pasta version, which can also be made vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free (if using GF pasta) as well. It takes less than 30 minutes, so grab some roasted reds and come join me!

Pasta with Easy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce | gimmesomeoven.com

First of all, can we talk about how red this sauce is?!? It is seriously one of the most vivid sauces I make, which makes me just a little giddy. I love colorful food!!!

But the better news is that this vivid sauce is super easy to make, just as easy to customize (if you like it spicier or smokier or sweeter), and mmm-mmm-good. Here’s the how-to…

 

Pasta with Easy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce | gimmesomeoven.com

Begin with the star ingredient — your roasted reds. You can either use the store-bought jarred version, or earn an extra star and go homemade.

Pop those babies in a blender or food processor along with some garlic and onion, and puree them to smooth perfection.

Pasta with Easy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce | gimmesomeoven.com

Then heat some oil in a skillet, add the pureed red pepper mixture and the remaining sauce ingredients, and bring it all to a simmer.

While the sauce simmers, add your pasta to some (well-salted) boiling water and cook it al dente.

Pasta with Easy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce | gimmesomeoven.com

When the pasta is ready, drain it and then add it to the sauce, which will be nice and flavorful after simmering.

Pasta with Easy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce | gimmesomeoven.com

Give it a good toss, and admire that bright RED!

Pasta with Easy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce | gimmesomeoven.com

So pretty!

Pasta with Easy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce | gimmesomeoven.com

You can either eat it plain, or if you want a little extra color and loveliness, top it with some extra Parm and fresh basil. Then serve it up and enjoy every last bite.  I definitely did. :)

Pasta with Easy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce | gimmesomeoven.com

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Pasta with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

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  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: About 4-6 1x

Description

This pasta with roasted red pepper sauce recipe is simple to make and full of that great roasted red pepper flavor we all love!


Ingredients

Scale

Pasta Ingredients:

  • 1 pound (16 oz.) pasta (I used whole-wheat penne pasta)
  • roasted red pepper sauce (see below)
  • (optional toppings: extra chopped fresh basil, Parmesan cheese, toasted pine nuts)

Roasted Red Pepper Sauce Ingredients:

  • 1 jar (15.5 Ounces) roasted red peppers
  • 1 small white onion, diced (about 1 cup diced)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock (or vegetable stock)
  • 1 Tbsp. honey
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper, more/less to taste
  • 1/4 tsp. freshly-ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup roughly-chopped fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
  • (**see optional add-ins in note below**)

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta al dente in a pot of generously-salted boiling water, according to package instructions. (See below for optimal timing suggestions for cooking the pasta and the sauce.)
  2. As your pasta water is heating up to a boil, make the roasted red pepper sauce. Using a blender or food processor, add roasted red peppers (with juices), onion and garlic and pulse until combined and smooth.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over medium high heat. Pour in the roasted red pepper mixture, and saute for 5 minutes or until the sauce begins to simmer. Stir in the remaining sauce ingredients (stock, honey, salt, crushed red pepper, black pepper and basil), and bring back to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, and let the sauce simmer for another 5-10 minutes or until your pasta is done.
  4. (Timing-wise, I typically add the dried pasta to the pot of water to begin cooking once my sauce has reached a simmer. That way the sauce gets to simmer for the amount of time it takes to cook the pasta.)
  5. Once your pasta reaches al dente, drain it and transfer the pasta to the saute pan of sauce. Toss to combine. Serve immediately, garnished with extra toppings if desired.

Notes

**Sauce Alternatives**

Want to make your sauce spicier? Add an extra half teaspoon (or whole teaspoon) of crushed red chili flakes.

Want to make your sauce smokier? Add a teaspoon of smoked paprika.

Want to make your sauce sweeter? Add an extra tablespoon or two of honey.

Recipe slightly adapted from The Pioneer Woman.

Pasta with Easy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce | gimmesomeoven.com

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26 comments on “Pasta with Easy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce”

  1. I LOVE roasted red peppers and this sauce looks fab! I am lovin’ that bright red…pretty and healthy? This is rockin’ my socks…and my taste buds!

  2. Ok why do I not make this more often?!? Drooling!

  3. This pasta is super simple and looks wonderful! This is the type of meal I can imagine myself making on weeknights. pinned!

  4. Oh Ali, your pictures are beautiful! I am drooling all over my keyboard. I need to make this very soon!

  5. Can I have this for Valentine’s Day? I’ll bring dessert :)

  6. A perfect pasta! It sounds wonderful on these cold days.

  7. Soooo sick of snow! And unfortunately I had to get out in it after the initial snow on Tuesday to go to work. Booo. I would have much rather have stayed home, and warmed up with something like this. Love a good roasted red pepper sauce, especially with pasta! So pretty too!

  8. Seriously the color of that sauce rocks! Love how vibrant the red is, and the contrast of the basil looks awesome.

    I love anything with roasted red peppers in it so this dish is a winner in my book. The addition of the spicy red pepper flakes sounds delicious.

  9. This looks so fabulous! Love the color.

  10. Am so excited to try this sauce. I use the Eat Right for your Blood Type which says if you are Type B blood – no tomatoes! This sauce should be able to be my substitute for anything that would usually have tomato sauce. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

  11. What a deliciously fabulous idea! More fun than the typical tomato sauce :)

  12. I am so over snow days too. It seems to never stop, but at least we can eat awesome pantry pasta like this!

  13. not enough people appreciate red pepper sauce!! I’ve seen so many have mixed reactions to it, but I totally fall in the LOVE camp :) this looks faboosh Ali!

  14. Please send the snow up here to Seattle – we had one day of it and then it was GONE!! I want to shut down work and stay home bundled up with a fire! And a big bowl of this. :) It’s beautiful Ali!

  15. Enough with the snow in KS already! I am so done with it.
    I could eat this pasta everyday! LOVE roasted peppers!!

  16. This just looks perfect!! I love roasted red peppers :) I bet this tastes amazing

  17. I love roasted red peppers, such a perfect sauce!

  18. This was so delicious, Ali! Thanks for the recipe!

  19. I just made this, but I used red peppers I roasted myself. It’s very tasty! I did add some chili powder to it.
    Anyway, mine is not as vividly red as yours. I wonder if it’s because of the way I roasted the peppers, or that they didn’t sit in a jar…
    But anyway, thanks for the recipe :)

  20. This sauce is delicious! I’m allergic to tomatoes, and was looking for a alternative red sauce for pasta as well as pizza. This really fits the bill! Thanks!

  21. This sounds really good. My husband can no longer have tomatoes, because it’s too high in potassium. So the red pepper sauce is a great substitute.