Quick Italian Pink Sauce – Easy Pasta Sauce

Nothing beats pasta in my opinion, no matter the season! And there is no pasta without sauce, and this Italian pink sauce will be such a revelation that you will ask yourself, why haven’t I thought of this earlier?

That was my actual reaction when I tried this, luscious, creamy, hitting the right spot of tangy tomatoes and sweet heavy cream that just mix right with grated cheese deliciousness!

While this sauce and pasta dish are not from the tradition of the peninsula, but from the Italian American roots, we couldn’t pass an occasion to highlight something so good!

What is Italian pink sauce?

Italian pink sauce is a popular Italian American sauce made by mixing heavy cream with chopped tomatoes to create a smoother flavour. While it wasn’t born here, in modern Italian cuisine it’s getting more and more popular, even if we added our spin to it! Some recipes even call for sausage, so that’s up to you if you wnat to add even meat to it.

What ingredients are needed to make this Italian pink sauce?

To make the best italian pink sauce recipe you will need:

• onion – adds sweetness and depth to the base of the sauce;
• garlic – brings that punch in flavour essential in italian cooking;
• tomato paste – intensifies the tomato flavor and thickens the sauce;
• extra virgin olive oil – the base of this rich sauce;
• chopped tomatoes – the actual main character of the sauce, they offer the right spot of acid that will be balanced by the cream;
• oregano & salt – bring those italian seasoning flavours that make this pink pasta sauce so good. You can also add red pepper flakes and some fresh basil too at the end;
• heavy cream – the other main character of the recipe, which softens the acidity of the tomatoes and makes the sauce even creamier and richer;
• grated parmesan cheese – salty and nutty, adding that final touch that ties it all together.

How do I make Italian pink sauce?

Making Italian pink sauce pasta recipe it’s so easy! Start by cooking your pasta in a pot of salted water until al dente (follow the packet’s instructions).

While the pasta is cooking, drizzle some extra virgin olive oil in a pan and then add the chopped onion and garlic. Saute for a few minutes, until the onion is translucent and then add the tomato paste. Stir while it melts with the onion and garlic mixture.

Then add the chopped tomatoes, salt, dried oregano and cook for 10 minutes, covered with a lid. Turn off the heat, add the parmesan and cream and combine everything.

Coat the pasta with the sauce and serve your Italian pink sauce pasta with more grated cheese on the side (for that extra dairy we all need!).

Can I use this Italian pink sauce only on pasta?

While this sauce is usually amazing on cooked pasta, you can also enjoy it with plenty of other dishes:

• grilled chicken – we made an amazing tagliata and this sauce would go beautifully over it, add some more cheese or mozzarella, pop it in the oven and you have a total new dish!
• seafood – this italian pink sauce would pair beautifully with shrimps, salmon or even cod, add a squeeze of lemon and you are sorted!
• stuffed vegetables – think bell peppers, zucchini boats or even baked eggplants.
• dipping sauce – this would be amazing for bradsticks, garlic knots, gnocco fritto or even for farinata!
• risotto – this would make an amazing sformato too!

What’s the difference between Italian pink sauce and vodka sauce?

Italian pink sauce is a creamy blend of tomato and heavy cream, usually flavored with garlic, onion, and Parmesan. While vodka sauce is similar, it includes a splash of vodka, which helps emulsify the sauce and adds a subtle depth of flavour. And it’s also made with more heat for an extra kick.

Do you have any other Italian sauces to try?

We do indeed! Our sauce repertoire is expanding and there are more coming but for now you should try:

• pesto alla siciliana – the cousin to the popular pesto alla Genovese and the classic pesto pasta. In this case it’s made with tomatoes and ricotta on top of the usual ingredients;
• nduja ragu – if you love spicy and ragu, this is the sauce for you! Get ready for a kick that will make your pasta even more irresistible!
• white ragu – Delicious counterpart to the classic tomato ragu, this is one you will eat by the spoon (it happened!).
• friggione – coming right from Bologna, this is one of those dishes that is not exactly a sauce, but it kind of is (make it make sense), if you love onion and sihes that only require time to get better and better in flavour this is for YOU!

Do you have more Italian pasta recipes?

You know how much we love pasta over here and maybe its a great hint that we wrote a whole ebook on making pasta from scratch (just saying), but yes, we have plenty of pasta recipes:

• ciriole pasta – thicker spaghetti like pasta with that homemade rustic feel;
• pistachio lasagna – the goddess of pasta (after pasta water, because that’s liquid gold!), anything pistachio is a huge yes from us!
• pasta alla crudaiola – simple and quick to make, perfect for the summer too;
• rigatoni pomodoro – a classic that never gets old, simple and quick to make;
• baked mostaccioli con ricotta – another italian american recipe, but a total hit as a pasta bake in our books;
• malloreddus – one of the easiest (and in my opinion best) pasta to make from scratch and perfect to hold that sauce;
• scarpariello pasta – simple and with that kick of spice we all need;
• busiate pasta – another one of my favourite shapes with that rustic finish;
• pasta alla cenere – if you love gorgozola, olives and cream this is the pasta for you!

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