Description
This Sweet Garlic Tomato & Basil Casarecce recipe features tender casarecce pasta tossed in a luscious tomato sauce infused with roasted garlic and Parmesan. Finished with creamy burrata and fresh basil, this comforting Italian dish offers rich, sweet, and savory flavors perfect for a satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1/2 lb. casarecce pasta
Roasted Garlic
- 2 bulbs of garlic
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (approximate, for roasting garlic)
- Salt to taste
Sauce
- 6 tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
- 28 oz. tomato passata
- 1 Parmesan rind
- Salt to taste
- Reserved garlic-infused olive oil from roasting
Topping
- 8 oz. burrata
- Fresh basil for garnish
- Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
Instructions
- Roast the Garlic: Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Peel the garlic cloves from 2 bulbs and place them in a small oven-safe baking dish. Pour enough extra virgin olive oil to fully submerge the garlic cloves. Season with salt to taste and roast uncovered in the oven for 45 minutes until cloves are soft and lightly golden.
- Mash Roasted Garlic: Remove the garlic confit from the oven and mash the soft garlic cloves with a fork. Set aside the mashed garlic and reserve the garlic-infused olive oil for later use.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a heavy-bottomed pot, melt 2 tbsp. butter over medium heat. Allow it to bubble and turn a light caramel brown color to develop nutty flavor.
- Add Ingredients to Sauce: Stir in the tomato passata, mashed garlic confit, and Parmesan rind. Pour in the reserved garlic-infused olive oil and season with salt to taste. Let the sauce simmer gently over low heat for 15 minutes to meld flavors.
- Cook the Pasta: While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the casarecce pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 3/4 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Remove the Parmesan rind from the sauce and take the sauce off heat. In a large sauté pan, add the cooked pasta, remaining 4 tbsp. butter, and 1/4 cup reserved pasta water. Toss over medium heat, gently stirring to combine evenly. Add more pasta water in 1/4 cup increments as needed, until desired sauce consistency is reached.
- Serve: Plate the pasta and top each serving with a generous portion of burrata cheese, fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Roasting garlic in olive oil mellows its flavor, adding sweetness and depth to the sauce.
- Reserve pasta water helps adjust sauce consistency and helps the sauce cling to the pasta better.
- Use fresh burrata for creamy texture and rich taste.
- Simmer the sauce gently to allow flavors to meld without bitterness.
- Adjust salt cautiously since Parmesan rind adds some saltiness.
