About
Creamy Rasta Pasta is a Jamaican-inspired pasta dish that truly captures the beauty of that island's culture. The sauce coating each bite of tender pasta is creamy, cheesy, and very, very spicy; this is a dish spice lovers are going to enjoy wholeheartedly! With notes of zesty jerk seasoning, Creamy Rasta Pasta is a delicious way to get your taste buds fired up! Literally!
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) package penne
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium bell peppers, color of your choice, chopped
- 1 Scotch bonnet or habanero pepper, optional, seeded and chopped
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoons jerk seasoning, homemade or store-bought
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 1/4 cups vegetable stock or broth
- 2 tablespoons white wine, optional
- 2 fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- scallions, optional, to taste, chopped, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 -In a large pot of salted, boiling water, add the penne and cook it to al dente, according to the package directions.
Step 2 -Drain the penne and set it aside.
Step 3 -In a 12-inch skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil.
Step 4 -Add the garlic to the hot oil and cook, while stirring, until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
Step 5 -Add the bell peppers and the Scotch bonnet peppers to the hot oil and cook, while stirring, until the peppers are tender, about 3-4 minutes.
Step 6 -Add the sea salt, the jerk seasoning, the paprika, and the flour to the pepper mixture and stir to combine.
Step 7 -Cook until the spices are fragrant and the raw flour smell disappears, about 1-2 minutes.
Step 8 -Add the heavy cream, the vegetable stock, and the white wine to the pepper mixture and stir to combine.
Step 9 -Cook the pepper mixture, while whisking, until it thickens slightly and becomes a smooth sauce.
Step 10 -Add the thyme sprigs to the sauce.
Step 11 -Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer until it thickens and the peppers become tender, about 3-4 minutes.
Step 12 -Add the parmesan cheese to the sauce and stir until melted.
Step 13 -Add the cooked penne to the sauce mixture and stir to coat.
Step 14 -Remove and discard the thyme sprigs.
Step 15 -Serve immediately garnished with the scallions.
