15-Minute Superb Roasted Pepper Pasta

15-Minute Magical Rich and Creamy Roasted Pepper Pasta is the dish you’ve been searching for. Without skimping on flavour, this easy-to-make pasta will become a favourite for those days when time is tight but you’re craving something delicious.

This dish is the perfect solution for those busy weeknight family dinners when you’re short on time but big on hunger. Imagine roasted pepper spaghetti enveloped in a silky cream sauce, bringing together the rich taste of peppers with the comforting touch of cream cheese. The beauty of this recipe is that it’s ready in 15 minutes, so you can have a delicious meal on the table in no time. Perfect for when you want something filling, flavourful, and fast. Our creamy roasted pepper pasta is sure to be a hit with both adults and kids alike. So next time you’re pondering over what to cook, give our Creamy pasta with roasted peppers recipe a shot. A speedy, satisfying meal solution for any day of the week. And if you are looking for more pasta inspiration, why not to try this recipe – Pasta with Leeks and Peas.

Just Simple Recipes: Bites and Bits Essentials for Roasted Pepper Pasta

Why to add pasta water to the sauce?

Adding pasta water to the sauce serves several key purposes in cooking:

1. Starchiness: The water in which pasta has been cooked contains starch released from the pasta. This starchy water can act as a binding agent, helping the sauce to adhere better to the pasta.
2. Texture & Consistency: It can help in adjusting the consistency of the sauce. If your sauce is too thick, adding some pasta water can thin it out. Conversely, if the sauce is too thin, the starch in the water can help thicken it.
3. Flavour Enhancement: The salted pasta water can also help in seasoning the sauce and enhancing its overall flavour.
4. Emulsification: For sauces that contain both oil and water-based ingredients (like a tomato sauce with olive oil), the starchy pasta water can act as an emulsifier, helping to merge and stabilize the different elements of the sauce.
5. Saving Sauces: If a sauce is accidentally over-reduced or becomes too concentrated, adding pasta water can help balance it out.

In essence, pasta water is like a secret ingredient that can elevate the texture, consistency, and flavour of a dish. I always add water to the sauce, it makes it silky and smooth.

Why to use jarred roasted peppers instead of doing it from scratch?

Using jarred roasted peppers in this recipe has several advantages. Firstly, they save a lot of time, removing the need to roast and peel fresh peppers. They’re easy to handle and simple to add to your dish, giving it a rich and tasty flavour.

Secondly, it’s smart to keep a jar or two in your pantry. These peppers are handy, and they last a long time, so they’re there when you need them. When you’re ready to cook, just drain them without rinsing. And a little tip: if your peppers come in oil, feel free to use that instead of olive oil. I often do, and it really boosts the pasta’s taste. I do not go for an expensive version, just the affordable one from Tesco’s.

Why to add cream cheese for Roasted Pepper Pasta Sauce?

Adding cream cheese to your pasta sauce might sound a bit out of the ordinary, but it’s a fantastic choice, especially when you compare it to heavy cream. One big plus is convenience. Cream cheese is often already in our fridges, while heavy cream might mean an extra trip to the grocery store. But here’s the real magic: when you mix cream cheese with pasta water, you get a beautifully smooth and silky sauce that coats every piece of pasta just right. This method takes full advantage of the starchy pasta water, resulting in a creaminess that’s hard to achieve with just heavy cream. Beyond texture, cream cheese offers a nice tangy twist, making your pasta dish stand out.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your gear and lets cook!

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Rich and Creamy Roasted Pepper Pasta

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Rich and Creamy Roasted Pepper Pasta - a quick fix for busy nights, this dish features roasted pepper spaghetti in a silky cream sauce – a pleasant blend of bold flavors and comforting creaminess. I suggest to use jarred roasted peppers, so this dish can be ready in just 15 minutes. It's the perfect solution for speedy and satisfying family dinners.

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 300 gr spaghetti + reserve spaghetti water
• 1 jar of roasted peppers, drain but reserve 1-2 tbsp of jar liquids, do no rinse/wash or pat dry the peppers, leave all juices on it. Cut peppers into fork-size bits
• 2-3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 red onion, finely chopped
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced or grated
• 2-3 peeled plum tomatoes from jar or 2-3 tbsp of tomato puree
• 100 gr soft cream cheese
• pinch of salt, pinch of pepper
• for serving: fresh basil, grated parmesan

Instructions

1. Begin with the spaghetti. In a sizeable pot, bring water to a boil, then season with salt. Follow the package instructions to cook the spaghetti, typically around 10 minutes. Once cooked, drain the spaghetti, ensuring you retain 1 cup of the pasta water. This reserved water will be added later to refine our sauce.
2. As the pasta simmers, heat olive oil in a large skillet — choose one large enough to later accommodate both the sauce and spaghetti. Once the oil is hot, add the minced garlic, sautéing for 1-2 minutes until it’s aromatic. Follow this by adding the finely chopped onion, sautéing for an additional 2 minutes while stirring.
3. Add plum tomatoes to the skillet, breaking them apart using a spatula. If using tomato puree, pour it into the skillet, ensuring thorough mixing. Next, add the roasted peppers and cream cheese. Then, pour in a ladle of the water from the cooking spaghetti. To do this, simply dip a ladle into the pot with the simmering spaghetti to get the some starchy pasta water. It would dilute the sauce, making it silky and smooth. Keep it on the stove on medium heat, until spaghetti are ready.
4. Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet with sauce, gradually pour pasta water, constantly stirring. Mix well to ensure the pasta is evenly coated. Add parmesan and fresh basil and serve on warm plates. Enjoy!