Description

This Spicy Tomato Garlic Confit Pasta is a flavorful and aromatic dish featuring garlic slowly cooked in olive oil with red pepper flakes, blended into a rich tomato sauce served over al dente spaghetti. Infused with fresh basil and an optional sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, this recipe offers a perfect balance of spice, savory depth, and vibrant herbaceous notes, ideal for a comforting yet elegant meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Garlic Confit

1/2 cup olive oil
8 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)

Tomato Sauce

1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Pasta and Garnishes

12 oz spaghetti or your preferred pasta
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
Grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

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Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C) to prepare for slow roasting the garlic.
Prepare Garlic Confit: In a small oven-safe dish, combine the olive oil, peeled garlic cloves, and red pepper flakes evenly.
Cook Garlic Confit: Cook the mixture in the preheated oven for 1 hour until the garlic is soft, golden, and infused with the spicy oil.
Mash Garlic: Remove the garlic cloves from the oil and lightly mash them with a fork to create a creamy texture.
Start Tomato Sauce: Heat a saucepan over medium heat and add the crushed tomatoes along with the mashed garlic and some of the garlic confit oil.
Simmer Sauce: Let the sauce simmer gently for 10–15 minutes, seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Cook Pasta: Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.
Combine Pasta and Sauce: Toss the cooked pasta with the spicy tomato garlic sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen and integrate the sauce smoothly.
Add Basil and Oil: Stir in the chopped fresh basil leaves and drizzle some of the garlic confit oil over the pasta for extra flavor.
Serve: Serve the pasta hot, topped with grated Parmesan cheese if desired, for a rich and spicy finish.

Notes

Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
Ensure garlic is slow cooked at low temperature to prevent burning and achieve a confit texture.
Reserve some pasta water to help bind and loosen the sauce for better coating of the pasta.
Parmesan cheese is optional but adds a creamy, savory element that complements the spicy tomato sauce.
Use fresh basil for the best flavor contrast and aroma enhancement.