Sun-dried Tomato Pasta

What’s better than making simple pasta with sundried tomato sauce? If you want to make your normal pasta interesting, boost it with the flavor of sundried tomatoes. If you have made up of your mind to give this recipe a try, then you must try this Chicken Gnocchi with similar flavor but made with gnocchi next time.

Sun-dried tomatoes are dense with the flavor of tomatoes. They also pack most of the nutritional value, like antioxidants and vitamins, and can be used as a snack.

They are an excellent substitute for tomatoes for making pasta sauce, as these tiny ones can have a more intense flavor than ripe tomatoes. The best thing about them is that you can keep them in your pantry for a long time; they last much longer than tomatoes.

Another variation of tomato sauce that uses cherry tomatoes is 30-minute Cherry Tomato Pasta, a simple Italian pasta with spaghetti. The sauce has flavors from cherry tomatoes, garlic, and parsley. Using this recipe as a base, you can add shrimp or other meat, like in Cherry Tomato Pasta with Shrimp.

About sun-dried tomatoes

As their name suggests, sun-dried tomatoes are made by drying them out in the sun. They lose 80–90% of their liquid content, form this chewy, wrinkled shape, and are deep red. Their flavor is quite intense and, as such, is used sparingly in dishes.

Started by clever Italians in the first millennia, tomatoes were salted and dried under the sun to preserve the fruit. This helped preserve the flavor in a form easily stored and used during the winter when fresh produce was difficult to obtain.

These are often seen in jars, either in oil or dry-packed. I have one packed with oil. Dried tomatoes have been soaked in oil here, so when you add them to a dish, you add a bit more oil that will seep from them.

Mind you, the oil packed in the jars is full of flavor and can be used for sautéing like it’s done here or drizzled over salads.

How to Make: Instructions and Tips

Cook pasta Al-Dante

The first step is to cook the pasta. To do so, follow the package instructions for the pasta to cook ‘al dente.’ Al-Dente means to cook it so it remains firm and holds its shape.

This usually involves boiling water and adding the pasta to a large pot to cook for the recommended time. Add enough salt while cooking the pasta.

I would recommend not to rinse the pasta in cold water before you cook it. Rinsing washes off the valuable starch on the pasta, which helps the sauce stick to the pasta.

When the pasta is done, reserve some water for later use. Pasta water is full of starch and would help later if you feel the pasta sauce is too thick.

Sauté sun-dried tomatoes

Sundried tomatoes pack an intense tomato flavor. Chop into small pieces, as larger pieces tend to be chewy (you may not see those tiny bits clearly in all that creamy and cheesy sauce). When you sauté them in oil, they release some flavor into the oil. Here, we sauté them with onion and garlic.

• Preferably, use a large skillet to sauté and make the sauce. You will have to add the cooked pasta later to this skillet.
• Add the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar to a hot pan and heat it over medium heat. Add sundried tomatoes, garlic, and onions. Sauté them for a minute until the onions become translucent.
• Next, add Italian seasoning and red pepper powder to the pan. Sprinkle a pinch of salt. Keep in mind that the cheese and pasta water we will add to make the sauce have salt in them.
• Mix everything and cook for another couple of minutes until it smells fragrant.

Serve With

This pasta works great as a whole dish by itself. You may compliment it with some bread like this— garlic bread — or light salads to supplement your fiber intake.

• GarlBread: Cheesy Garlic Bread is an excellent side dish that pairs with pasta. It has crunchy edges and is garlicky and cheesy. Another garlicky recipe is No-Knead Roasted Garlic Foccacia. A plain option is No-Knead Rustic White Bread.
• Roasted/grilled Chicken – Grilled Rosemary Chicken Kebabs, Easy Grilled Chicken, and Roasted Harissa Chicken are delicious chicken mains from the grills or oven.
• Meat dishes – Pan-Seared Lamb Chop Recipe, Skillet pork chops, and Chili Garlic Shrimp are some sumptuous meats and seafood to pair with tomato pasta.
• Air fried – Salmon, Chicken & Potatoes, Roasted Broccoli, and Chicken Wings (3 Ways) are quick and easy mains done in an air fryer.
• Roasted veggies – Roasted Lemon Pepper Zucchini and Pecan Honey Roasted Carrot will complement the rich pasta.

More Pasta recipes perfect for dinner

• Pasta Alla Norma (Eggplant pasta) – Classic Italian dish made with traditional flavors but has a healthy twist – baked eggplants.
• One-Pot Lemon Pasta – Refreshing, delicious lemony, creamy sauce tossed with spaghetti.
• Chicken Parmesan Pasta – One pot dinner recipe with chicken parmesan and pasta.
• Creamy Spinach Pasta – A quick recipe to make creamy parmesan sauce and pair it with the goodness of spinach.
• Salmon Pasta in Creamy Lemon Sauce – Light and fresh lemon sauce pairs well with flaky, tender salmon and pasta.
• Spicy Mushroom Chicken Pasta – Pasta with mushroom and chicken in a rich garlicky tomato sauce is creamy and has a perfect hint of spice. 
• Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta – Butternut Squash, onion, garlic, and herbs are roasted and blended to make a creamy pasta sauce. Top with crunchy breadcrumbs.
• Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta – Ranch seasoning and bacon add flavors to another creamy and cheesy sauce.
• Pesto Pasta Salad – Salad recipe with bold flavors from fresh handmade pesto mixed with cherry tomatoes, rocket leaves, pine nuts, and bocconcini cheese.