This Rose Pasta is topped with crispy prosciutto, and it's creamy and delicious. This Pink Sauce Recipe is so simple to make in only 30 minutes and full of flavor!
I am literally drooling just looking at this photo because I LOVE this recipe. I am a total pasta girl and always will be.
This pasta is decadent, creamy, and gorgeous all at the same time. If love creamy pink sauce, make sure to make my 4 Cheese Pasta too!
Want more protein for dinner? Try pairing this recipe with my Chicken Wrapped in Prosciutto or Crusted Chicken Romano recipes!
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Why You Will Love This Recipe:
- It's pasta..must I go on?
- This recipe has pink sauce, which in my eyes is the perfect combo of a red sauce and alfredo mixed together
- The recipe is ready in 30 minutes
- This dish is topped with crispy prosciutto for a nice salty kick
If you love pasta as much as I do, try my Creamy Tortellini Soup, Boursin Cheese Pasta, Italian Manicotti & Lasagna al forno recipes.
The Ingredients:
Heavy Cream- To add creaminess and that gorgeous pink color.
Tomato Paste- For our tomato flavor and keep a thickness to our sauce.
Pasta Water- 100% crucial to create the perfect sauce. This sauce is especially thick, and the pasta water comes in at the end like Superman to create the best texture.
Parmigiano Reggiano- My personal favorite cheese and creates a nutty Italian flavor. You want to shred the parmesan from the block in this recipe so it melts properly in the sauce.
Pasta- I like a Classic Spaghetti or Bucatini for this recipe. They both hold onto the sauce really well and taste amazing. Honestly, any larger pasta will work wonders in this sauce.
Prosciutto- It crisps up and makes for a salty little crunch in our pasta.
Parsley, Red Pepper flakes and Salt and Pepper- Seasonings to really enhance the dish.
Substitutions & Variations:
Vegetarian? Leave out the prosciutto.
Don't like any spice? Feel free to leave out the red pepper flakes.
How to Make Rose Pasta:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Layer prosciutto on a cookie sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until nice and crispy.
Step 2: Allow the prosciutto to cool on a paper towel. Cut or crumble into smaller bite size pieces and set aside.
Step 3: In a large saucepan, boil the water for the pasta. I like to add a touch of olive oil and salt to my pasta water to help the noodles to not stick together. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package and drain, saving 1 cup of the pasta water. *IT IS IMPORTANT TO SAVE THE PASTA WATER*
Step 4: To make the Rose Pink Sauce, heat a large skillet or dutch oven to medium low heat and add in the olive oil. Add the shallot and a pinch of salt and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring a few times.
Step 5: Next, add in the garlic and allow it to cook for 30 seconds. Then, spoon in the tomato paste and stir, allowing it to warm up and spread a bit.
Step 6: Turn the heat down to low and add in the heavy cream. Allow the cream to warm up over low heat for about 3 to 4 minutes and sprinkle in red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Add in the parmesan cheese and stir until melted. Ladle in ¼ cup of pasta water in at a time and stir until you get the right thickness.
Step 7: Add the pasta into the cream sauce with the prosciutto and parsley. Toss to combine.
Step 8: Top with additional parmesan cheese, if desired, and serve immediately.
Expert Tips for Pink Sauce:
- Saving pasta water will absolutely change your Italian cooking. I've found that you can make a come back from almost any chunky or separating sauce by just adding in a ladle or two of pasta water.
- Watch the shallot really well when cooking. You want a translucency on these with no browning. Turn heat down if the edges start to brown.
- Shred the parmesan cheese from the block finely for this recipe. Do not use a bagged cheese. It won't melt right.
- Serve this meal right away and reserve some pasta water just in case the sauce starts to over thicken. Pour in a little bit and you are back to perfection!
For more easy Italian weeknight meals, try my Penne Primavera and Pasta and Peas.
Recipe FAQs:
No, this sauce is not one that you want to sit for a long time. It needs to be served immediately after cooking, so that it does not separate. If you are looking for a sauce to simmer on the stovetop, try my quick marinara.
Italian pink sauce is basically a mix of red sauce and creamy alfredo. This recipe uses tomato paste to get the acidity of the tomatoes and heavy cream to give us the pink color. It's one of my favorite creamy sauces and it's ready in less than 30 minutes! No all day simmering required.
More Pasta Recipes You Will Love:
If you tried this Rose Pasta Sauce Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
PrintRecipe
Rose Pasta
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 3-4 servings 1x
Description
This Rose Pasta with crispy prosciutto is creamy and delicious. It is so simple to make in only 30 minutes and full of flavor!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 shallot, minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ to 1 cup of pasta water
- ½ cup parmigiano reggiano cheese
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 3 ounce prosciutto package
- 8 ounce dry bucatini pasta (half of a full package)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375. Layer prosciutto on a cookie sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until nice and crispy. Allow the prosciutto to cool on a paper towel. Cut or crumble into smaller pieces and set aside.
- In a large saucepan, boil the water for the pasta. I like to add a touch of olive oil and salt to my pasta water to help the noodles not stick together. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package and drain, saving 1 cup of the pasta water. *IT IS IMPORTANT TO SAVE THE PASTA WATER*
- Heat a large skillet or dutch oven to medium/low heat and add in the olive oil.
- Add the shallot and a pinch of salt and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring a few times. Don't let it burn, we just want it to soften.
- Add in the garlic and allow it to cook for 30 seconds. Then, spoon in the tomato paste and stir, allowing it to warm up and spread a bit.
- Turn the heat down to low and add in the cream. Allow the cream to warm up over low heat and sprinkle in red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
- Add in the cheese and stir. Slowly add pasta water a ¼ cup at a time, until you get the right consistency.
- Toss in the pasta and prosciutto, and parsley.
- Top with additional parmesan cheese, if desired and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
- Saving pasta water will absolutely change your Italian cooking. I've found that you can make a come back from almost any chunky or separating sauce by just adding in a ladle or two of pasta water.
- Watch the shallot really well when cooking. You want a translucency on these with no browning. Turn heat down if the edges start to brown.
- Shred the parmesan cheese from the block finely for this recipe. Do not use a bagged cheese for this recipe.
- Serve this meal right away and reserve some pasta water just in case the sauce starts to over thicken. Pour in a little bit and you are back to perfection!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: dinner
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: italian
Robert
Amazing recipe! Thank you!