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Prep time
5 minutes
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Cook time
20 minutes
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Serves
2 to 4
Author Notes
This summery pasta sauce is easy enough for a weeknight, but special enough to make for friends. It relies on a boatload of cherry tomatoes, which get quickly charred in a skillet, then spruced up with anchovies, garlic, and red pepper flakes (feel free to ditch the anchovies to make this vegetarian). The secret to it being creamy but not too creamy? Half-and-half, which is just what it sounds like: half cream, half milk. Just before you eat, top the pasta with plenty of fresh herbs: Basil is classic, but try mint, parsley, and oregano, too. —Emma Laperruque
Test Kitchen Notes
This recipe is featured in the story, Turn Your Cherry Tomatoes Into This Easy, Creamy Pasta Sauce, sponsored by Hood Cream. —The Editors
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Ingredients
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2 tablespoons
extra-virgin olive oil
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2 pints
cherry tomatoes, preferably mixed colors
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3/4 teaspoon
kosher salt, plus more to taste
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4
anchovy fillets, minced
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2
garlic cloves, minced
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1/4 teaspoon
red pepper flakes
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1 cup
Hood Half-and-Half
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8 ounces
short-shaped pasta (such as penne, fusilli, or cavatappi)
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Fresh herbs, for serving (such as basil, mint, or oregano)
Directions
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Set a large pot of water on the stove over high heat to come to a boil. When it starts to simmer, season it with salt (I estimate 1 tablespoon kosher salt per 1 quart water).
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While that’s heating up, make the sauce. Set a very large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and when it’s very hot, add the tomatoes. They should sizzle and hiss. Season them with salt and stir so all the tomatoes are coated in oil. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the tomatoes are starting to char in places, split at the skins, and release their juices.
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Add the minced anchovies anchovies, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Stir. Cook for about 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant. Add the half-and-half, stir, and lower the heat to medium. Bring the liquid to a simmer and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, until the sauce has reduced to the consistency of thick cream.
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When your water is boiling, add the pasta, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente. If your sauce is waiting on the pasta, you can put it on the lowest heat possible just to keep it warm, or cut the heat altogether.
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As soon as the pasta is ready, drain it, then add it to the sauce. If you cut the heat earlier, turn it back on to low and toss until the pasta is completely coated. Taste and adjust the salt and red pepper accordingly. Serve hot, with fresh herbs sprinkled on top.
Emma was the food editor at Food52. She created the award-winning column, Big Little Recipes, and turned it into a cookbook in 2021. These days, she's a senior editor at Bon Appétit, leading digital cooking coverage. Say hello on Instagram at @emmalaperruque.
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