Description
Indulge in the festive spirit with this Candy Cane Pasta recipe that features red and green pasta stripes resembling a candy cane. Creamy and flavorful, this dish is perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces penne pasta or rigatoni
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1–2 drops red gel food coloring
- 1–2 drops green gel food coloring
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil pasta until al dente, drain, and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: Sauté garlic and onion, then add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, herbs, salt, and pepper. Simmer, then stir in cream and Parmesan until smooth.
- Add Color: Divide sauce, color one part red and one part green. Toss each with pasta portions.
- Assemble: Arrange pasta in stripes on a platter, top with mozzarella and basil.
- Serve: Enjoy immediately!
Notes
- This dish is a festive Christmas favorite.
- Sprinkle with extra Parmesan for a snowy effect.
- Bake briefly to melt the cheese topping if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American-Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
