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Spicy Tomato and Leek Sauce_MidPage – 1

Spicy Tomato and Leek Sauce

This spicy tomato and leek sauce works well on any type of pasta, but I love it on a big pasta shape, like paccheri or rigatoni.
3.89 from 60 votes
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 555kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pasta of your choice
  • 2 teaspoons neutral oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 leeks trimmed, rinsed, and thinly sliced into rounds
  • 1½ pounds cherry tomatoes or 1 or 2 15-ounce cans crushed or diced tomatoes
  • 5 cloves garlic peeled and thinly sliced
  • 2 cups vegetable stock more or less, as needed
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper more or less, as needed
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh minced parsley optional, for serving

Instructions

Prepare the Pasta:

  • Bring a large pot of water to boil. 10 minutes before the sauce finishes simmering, add the pasta and cook to package instructions. Reserve ¾ cup pasta cooking water. Drain.

Start the Sauce:

  • In a wide pot, heat the neutral oil over medium heat. Add the butter. Once frothy, add the leeks and cook for 5 minutes until just beginning to soften.
  • Add the tomatoes and turn the heat to medium-high. Once the tomatoes begin to blister and burst, add the garlic and stir, gently breaking up the tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper.

Simmer the Sauce:

  • Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and season with crushed red pepper. Simmer for 25-30 minutes until thickened and reduced. If the sauce has too much liquid, turn the heat to a low boil to continue reducing it to a jammy consistency. Taste and season again to your preferences.

Sauce the Pasta:

  • Add the pasta cooking water to the pot and stir to incorporate. Add the pasta and cook for 1-2 minutes, tossing gently, until all the pasta is coated with the sauce. Turn off the heat.

To Serve:

  • Divide the pasta between shallow bowls and garnish with parsley and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, if desired. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 555kcal | Carbohydrates: 101g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 9g | Sodium: 129mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin C: 45mg
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