Can I use canned tomato sauce instead of tomato paste?

Yes, you can use tomato sauce, or canned tomatoes, instead of tomato paste, but the resulting sauce will be thinner and less concentrated in flavor. You may need to adjust the amount of liquid in the recipe to compensate for the thinner consistency.

Can I make the tomato paste sauce ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to use. Make sure to cool the sauce completely before storing it and reheat it thoroughly before serving.

How do I prevent tomato paste sauce from burning or sticking to the skillet?

Make sure to stir the sauce frequently while it's cooking to prevent it from burning or sticking to the skillet. You can also add a splash of water or broth if the sauce is too thick or dry. Once you add the hot pasta water it will turn into a thicker sauce.

Can I use other types of pasta besides spaghetti?

Yes, you can use other types of pasta besides spaghetti, such as penne, rigatoni, fettuccine, or linguine. Just adjust the cooking time according to the package instructions for the specific type of pasta you're using.

Quick Tomato Paste Pasta Sauce Recipe with Spaghetti

Ingredients

Units Scale

3 large cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
1/3 cup DeLallo Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2– 1 teaspoon (depends how spicy you like it) DeLallo Calabrain Chili Pepper Paste, plus more for serving
1 tube (4.6 ounce) DeLallo Tomato Paste
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 pound dried pasta, such as DeLallo Spaghetti or Rigatoni
1/2 cup freshly grated parmigiano reggiano cheese (parmesan)
Chopped fresh basil leaves, for garnish (optional)
Reserved pasta water

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Instructions

Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the garlic and Calabrian Chili Peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is softened and slightly golden brown, about 2 minutes.
Add the tomato paste and salt. Cook, stirring often, until the tomato paste is caramelized and dark red in color, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat.
Meanwhile, add pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente—reserve 2 cups of pasta cooking water and set aside. Drain the pasta.
Add the pasta water to the skillet and stir to combine with the tomato paste mixture. Use a whisk to combine the mixture until smooth. Let the sauce simmer over medium-high heat for about 1-2 minutes. Reduce to low heat. Add the pasta and toss until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta completely, about 1 minute.
Remove the pan from the heat. Add the parmigiano cheese and toss to combine. Serve with extra grated parmigiano, fresh basil leaves, and more Calabrian chili pepper paste if desired. Serve hot. Buon appetito!

Notes

- Let the tomato paste caramelize with olive oil, garlic, and Calabrian chili peppers. This adds a robust and unique flavor to the dish.

- Cook Pasta Perfectly. Salt the water to flavor the pasta from the inside out. Only cook until al dente. Read: How Long to Boil Spaghetti Pasta Perfectly Every Time.

- Finish cooking the pasta in the pan and toss it with the warm sauce.

Author: Elena Davis
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Savory
Method: Italian
Cuisine: Italian