Description
This creamy bow tie pasta recipe features a rich tomato and basil sauce enhanced with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and baby spinach. Cooked bow tie pasta is tossed in a luscious blend of crushed tomatoes, heavy cream, and fresh herbs, then topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a comforting and flavorful Italian-inspired meal perfect for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 8 to 10 fresh basil leaves, plus more for serving
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 cups baby spinach
Pasta
- 12 ounces bow tie pasta
Garnish
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Cook the garlic and prepare the tomato base: Heat 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until glistening. Add the thinly sliced garlic cloves and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, kosher salt, Italian seasoning, and 8 to 10 fresh basil leaves.
- Simmer the sauce: Increase the heat to medium-high to bring the sauce to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Let the sauce simmer, stirring occasionally, until it thickens, around 20 to 30 minutes.
- Cook the pasta: While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add 12 ounces of bow tie pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- Combine cream, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes into the sauce: Remove the basil leaves from the thickened sauce. Stir in ½ cup heavy cream, 2 cups baby spinach, and ½ cup thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes. Bring the sauce back to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the spinach has wilted, about 3 minutes.
- Toss pasta with the sauce: Add the drained pasta along with ½ cup of the reserved pasta cooking water to the sauce and toss to combine well. If the sauce appears too thick, gradually add more reserved pasta water until the desired consistency is reached.
- Garnish and serve: Serve the pasta topped with fresh basil leaves and freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a rich and flavorful finish.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency for a silky texture.
- Simmering the tomato sauce helps intensify the flavors and thicken the sauce.
- Use fresh basil leaves for garnish to add a fresh herbal aroma.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a plant-based cream alternative.
- Sun-dried tomatoes add a concentrated sweetness and umami flavor—feel free to adjust the amount based on preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
