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White plate with rigatoni in a roast tomato sauce. Fresh basil on top and a fork resting into the pasta.
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5 from 23 votes

Easy Roasted Tomato Pasta

A super simple and super easy roasted tomato pasta sauce where all the ingredients are roasted for a wonderful depth of flavour.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Course: Tomato Pasta Sauces
Cuisine: Italian Inspired
Keyword: roast tomato pasta sauce, tomato pasta
Servings: 4 people
Author: Emilie Pullar

Ingredients

  • 400 grams dried pasta
  • 600 grams tomatoes, cut into halves or quarters depending on size
  • 1 onion, cut into wedges
  • 6 anchovies
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 1 teaspoon runny honey
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • ½ cup packed fresh basil, torn
  • 30 grams unsalted butter (optional)
  • Fresh parmesan to serve

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
  • Arrange the tomatoes and onion in a small roasting dish so they fit quite snugly together.
  • Scatter the anchovies and garlic over the top, then sprinkle over the red pepper flakes and drizzle with the honey and olive oil. Season well with salt and pepper.
  • Roast for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the onions and tomatoes are lightly charred around the edges.
  • Transfer everything to a saucepan or blender and blend until smooth with a stick blender (or do in a food processor).
  • Stir through the basil, then place the sauce over a low heat while you cook your pasta.
  • Add the cooked pasta straight into the sauce with a splash of pasta water and the butter.
  • Let the pasta gently bubble in the sauce for 1–2 minutes, then divide between plates and top with freshly grated parmesan, extra basil and a drizzle of olive oil.

Video

Notes

Tomatoes - Use whatever fresh tomatoes look best, or substitute good quality canned tomatoes when they aren’t in season.
Anchovies - They melt completely into the sauce and add a deep savory flavor rather than a strong fish taste. Leave them out for a vegetarian version.
Red pepper flakes (chili flakes) - Start with ¼ teaspoon of chilli flakes, then add more to taste or leave them out completely if you prefer.
Pasta - Undercook dried pasta by a minute so it can bubble away in the sauce for a good 1-2 minutes.
Butter - Optional, but it gives the sauce a glossy finish and rounds out the flavor beautifully.