Done in under 30 minutes this flavor packed Pink Pasta Sauce is the best version of a tomato cream sauce there is. Made from common ingredients such as fresh tomatoes, cream, and shallots this is similar to a vodka pasta - but made with bacon and white wine.
Place bacon in a cold skillet and set it over medium-high heat. Cook for 7-8 minutes, until bacon is crispy. Meanwhile, get the pasta water cooking in a large pot.
½ lb bacon
Add shallots and garlic and cook for 2 minutes, until shallots have softened. Meanwhile, salt the pasta water heavily and pour in the dry pasta.
Push the bacon, shallots and garlic to one side of the pan and add tomato paste and chili flakes on the other side. Fry the tomato paste and chili flakes for 1 minute, then mix in with the rest.
2 tablespoon tomato paste, ½ teaspoon chili flakes
Add the tomatoes and white wine. Cook for 1 minute to allow some of the alcohol to cook off.
3 tomatoes, ¾ cup dry white wine
Add cream, bring to a simmer, then lower the heat to keep that simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
1 cup heavy cream
Mix in chopped parsley.
½ cup chopped parsley
Drain the pasta and reserve 1 cup of cooking water.
Mix in pasta and pasta cooking water with the sauce. Taste test and season with salt and pepper as needed.
3 cups dry penne pasta, 1 cup pasta cooking water, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon salt
Simmer for 1 minute, then serve.
Video
Notes
Ingredient notes & substitutions
Penne pasta can be swapped for rigatoni or fusilli or another kind of pasta
Chili flakes (red pepper flakes): adjust the amount depending on how spicy you like it, and how spicy your chili flakes are. Mine are pretty spicy and the amount here gives the sauce just a small kick of spice. You can also skip them.
Tomatoes should be ripe - rather over ripe than under
Fresh parsley can be switched for frozen parsley, or fresh or dried basil. It can also be omitted.
Shallots can be swapped for red or yellow onion - use one small to medium size onion in place of 3 shallots
Top with cheese for an even more indulgent experience: I like half a ball of mozzarella, shredded pecorino or parmesan cheese
Tips & tricks
Place the bacon in a cold pan to allow for as much fat as possible to release. This means crispier bacon, and no need for adding olive oil or butter.
Fry the tomato paste before mixing with the rest, for a deeper flavor
Undercook the pasta - it will finish cooking with the sauce
Don't add salt until after the pasta & pasta water - the pasta water should be really salty, so taste test first to see if you really need more salt
Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days
Freeze leftovers to keep them for longer
Reheat leftovers on the stove in a pot over low heat until warmed through
Reheat leftovers in the microwave in 1 minute increments