Garlic Butter Pasta
This Garlic Butter Pasta is the ultimate cozy, flavor-packed vegan dinner made with creamy tomato-basil garlic butter. The rich roasted garlic melts into the spaghetti, creating a luscious sauce that's perfect for a weeknight meal or a comforting weekend indulgence.
Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- Small skillet or baking dish
- Large pot for boiling pasta
- Slotted spoon
- Mixing bowl
- Garlic press (optional)
Ingredients
For the Garlic-tomato basil butter:
- 2 whole garlic bulbs (peeled)
- 1/2 cup olive oil (just enough to cover the cloves)
- 1/2 cup softened vegan butter (or regular)
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 tbsp grated vegan parmesan (or regular)
- Small handful fresh basil, finely chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Pasta:
- 400 g spaghetti (or any pasta you like)
- 1 cup pasta’s cooking water
- Extra parmesan, basil and toasted breadcrumbs for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Slow-roast the garlic- Put the peeled cloves in a small saucepan and pour in enough olive oil to just submerge them (about ½ cup).- Set the pan over low heat and cook for about 20 minutes, swirling now and then, until the garlic is soft and pale golden. Let it cool for a minute.
- Make the compound butter- Scoop the garlic into a blender.- Add the soft butter, ½ tsp salt and a few grinds of pepper. Blend until completely smooth.- Scrape the mixture into a bowl, stir in the tomato paste, parmesan and chopped basil, and adjust seasoning.- Cover and refrigerate until firm enough to scoop (about 30 minutes). You’ll have roughly ¾ cup (12 Tbsp) of flavored butter.
- Cook the pasta- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a rolling boil.- Add the spaghetti and cook until one minute shy of al dente.- Just before draining, ladle out about a cup of the starchy cooking water. Drain the pasta.
- Finish the dish- Return the hot pasta to the empty pot over low heat.- Add 4 Tbsp of the chilled garlic-tomato basil butter (that’s 1 Tbsp per 100 g pasta) and a generous splash of the reserved cooking water.- Toss quickly until the butter melts and forms a glossy sauce that coats the noodles, adding more water a little at a time if needed
- Serve- Divide the pasta among warm bowls.- Top with extra parmesan, fresh basil leaves and toasted breadcrumbs if you like.
Nutrition
Calories: 818kcalCarbohydrates: 76gProtein: 15gFat: 51gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 30gTrans Fat: 4gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 272mgPotassium: 274mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 90IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 69mgIron: 2mg