on Mar 29, 2021 I don’t usually endorse shortcuts in recipes, but this Instant Pot Red Sauce Pasta recipe deserves to be shared with the world! This one’s a no-oven and no-using-hundred-different-pots kinda recipe! The result is a delicious, perfectly-cooked pasta that’s ready in 20 minutes. This red sauce pasta is perfect for those nights when you don’t have energy for too much prepping and chopping, and want a dinner that’s still delicious and homemade.
Instant Pot Vs. Stovetop
Instant Pot pasta cooks faster when compared to the stovetop methodUsing the Instant Pot for any recipe takes the guesswork out of it so no more babysitting pastaNot having to clean a million pots and pans after cooking is a huge relief. This recipe just uses one! It’s a fantastic, true one pot dish
Steps in Making Pasta In The Instant Pot:
I’ve broken the process down into easy steps for you to follow. This dish takes less than 30 minutes to come together.
Making Tomato Sauce
I’ve stuck to a basic red sauce or tomato sauce for this pasta dish. It’s tangy and chunky and draws flavours from tomatoes, onions, garlic, freshly cracked pepper, dried herbs and basil. The tomatoes available here in India are generally more sour than those in Italy, not really the best option for tomato sauce. And though it’s not essential, I actually prefer using canned tomatoes for my pasta sauce – they come pre-peeled and pre-cooked and the taste is just right. Once the onions and tomatoes are cooked, use a stick blender to lightly pulse the sauce so that it becomes semi-coarse and chunky. You can customise this dish and add your favourite veggies like bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, etc. Make sure to lightly toss them along with the onions and garlic before adding tomatoes. Alternatively, you could use this sauce recipe too: Simple Tomato Sauce Recipe
Pasta Cook Time – The Rule of Thumb
Any short pasta where the cook time on the packet is 6-7 minutes will work in this recipe. As a general rule of thumb, note down the cook time mentioned on the package. Round it off to the closest event number, divide it by half and use this as the cook time for the Instant Pot. Next, allow for 5 minutes of Natural Pressure Release and then turn the pressure valve to venting to manually release the remaining pressure. Note: The cook time mentioned here is for pasta cooked to al dente, meaning it will have a firm bite. For a softer variation, increase the cook time by 1 minute. Remember, it is always easier to fix undercooked pasta, but overcooked pasta can be a goopy mess!
Top Tips for the Best Instant Pot Pasta
Here’s more from my arsenal of tips and tricks, so that you absolutely nail this dish every time!
Blend the sauce so that it becomes slightly chunky and coarse-ish. If you don’t blend it, the canned tomatoes won’t break down completelyMake sure the pasta is submerged under the sauce and broth. Give it a light stir before cookingI’ve used pasta seasoning, chilli flakes and pepper to season the sauceAdding a pinch of sugar cuts through the tanginess of the sauce and balances the flavoursDo a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for 5 minutes and then do a manual release. The 5 minutes resting time cooks the pasta a little more and prevents starchy water from sputtering out of the vent.Instant pot pasta doesn’t really make for good leftovers, it’s best eaten when fresh.
Serve a warm bowl of this Instant Pot Red Sauce Pasta garnished with chopped basil leaves and grated Parmesan cheese! And it’s time to tuck into comforting weekday food 🙂
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More Easy and Exciting Instant Pot Recipes
Chicken ThukpaThai Chicken CurryGarlic Mashed PotatoesChicken Enchilada SoupChicken in Mushroom SauceMexican Rice with Corn and Peppers21 Instant Pot Recipes for Every Mood
