This Curry Pasta Sauce Without Coconut Milk is the fusion of simple, exotic spices, velvety textures, and mouthwatering flavors that make this curry pasta sauce one of my absolute favorites! My family requests this dish often, and it’s always spot on.
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Easy Curry Pasta Sauce
What I love most about this creamy pasta curry sauce is that the ingredients are simple, except for the curry leaves.
If you can find them, do use them to make this pasta sauce even more special. Add cooked chicken, shrimp, beef, or vegetables to make it your own.
Whenever I make this creamy tomato curry pasta, my family can’t believe it’s so quick to make, because it always turns out sensational!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Effortless preparation: Enjoy the convenience of a one-pot recipe, minimizing cleanup and simplifying the cooking process.
Bold flavor, no coconut: Revel in the rich taste of an exotic, spiced curry sauce without relying on coconut milk for the sauce.
Versatile pairing: Perfectly adaptable to cooked chicken, shrimp, beef, and vegetables.
Time-saving: With a quick preparation time, this recipe is ideal for busy days, ensuring a flavorful meal in under 30 minutes.
Family-friendly: Appeal to all taste preferences, making it a family favorite and a great curry dish to feed a crowd, or weeknight dinners.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Olive oil: Can be replaced with vegetable oil, ghee, or any neutral cooking oil based on preference and availability.
Fresh garlic: Fresh garlic provides a robust flavor. Adjust quantity based on personal taste. Garlic powder can be used as a substitute if fresh garlic is not available.
Curry leaves (optional): Curry leaves add a distinct aroma. Fresh is preferable, but dried curry leaves can be used as an alternative. Bay leaves offer a different but complementary flavor.
Curry powder: Curry powder brings a blend of spices. Any brand will do.
Tomato paste: Adds depth and richness to the sauce. Tomato sauce, blended sun-dried tomatoes, or ketchup can be alternatives, adjusting quantities for consistency.
Sugar: Balances acidity and enhances the taste of the tomatoes. Honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup can be used as natural sweeteners.
Salt: Essential for seasoning. Any preferred salt, such as sea salt or kosher salt.
Tomato puree or passata: Crushed tomatoes or blended fresh tomatoes can be used if puree or passata is unavailable.
Dried origanum: Contributes herbaceous notes. Add fresh origanum if that’s all you have.
Heavy cream: Provides creaminess. Use any cream you like.
Green chilli (optional): Adds heat. Omitting it won’t affect the recipe at all.
How To Make Creamy Curry Sauce For Pasta: Step by step
Good news: this curry pasta sauce couldn’t be easier to make! Here’s how to make it in 4 simple steps:
Step 1: Prepare The Pasta
In a large pot, boil water and prepare your pasta of choice as per the package instructions.
Step 2: Sautee The Aromatics
In a saucepan, sautee the garlic, curry leaves, and origanum in olive oil for 1 minute.
Step 3: Add Tomatoes
Pour in tomato puree/passata if using, and add the sugar, salt, and tomato paste.
Let it simmer until the oil gathers on the top and around the outer edges of the sauce.
Step 4: Curry It Up, Simmer, & Serve
Add the curry powder and cream, and simmer until heated through.
Mix the pasta and sauce, and serve hot.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
The ingredients in this recipe are straightforward, so they don’t require much effort to prepare. Here’s a list of tips to give you the best creamy curry sauce:
Freshness matters: Use fresh garlic for a robust flavor. It’ll give a more vibrant taste.
Curry leaves tip: If using dried curry leaves, crush them slightly before adding to the pot to release their aroma.
Layering spices: Add the curry powder and dried oregano after the garlic and curry leaves have infused into the oil. This builds layers of flavor.
Tomato paste technique: Allow the tomato paste to cook for a minute or two before adding other ingredients. This gets rid of the bitter, raw tomato taste.
Balancing flavors: Adjust the sugar and salt gradually, tasting as you go. This ensures a well-balanced sauce without overpowering sweetness or saltiness.
Creamy consistency: When adding cream, do so gradually. This allows you to control the creaminess of the sauce.
Simmer: Let the sauce simmer on low heat. This slow cooking process helps meld the flavors together, creating a more cohesive taste.
Storage
Allow the creamy curry pasta sauce to cool to room temperature before storing.
Transfer the sauce to an airtight container, ensuring it’s sealed tightly to prevent air exposure.
Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days or freeze for longer storage, thawing in the refrigerator before reheating.
Curry Pasta Sauce FAQs
If you need to make this recipe in advance, leave out the heavy cream, and store it in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, reheat the sauce on the stovetop, stir in the cream, and heat through.
Yes, you can use whole tomatoes. Crush or blend them for a sauce-like consistency.
Creamy Curry Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
- 2-3 garlic cloves chopped
- 1 tsp dried origanum
- 2-3 curry leaves
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 small can tomato puree or passata optional
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 3-4 Tbsp heavy cream quantity as desired
- fresh green chili chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large pot, boil water and prepare your pasta of choice as per the package instructions.
- In a saucepan, sautee the garlic, curry leaves, and origanum in olive oil for 1 minute.
- Pour in tomato puree/passata if using, and add the sugar, salt, and tomato paste.
- Let it simmer until the oil gathers on the top and around the outer edges of the sauce.
- Add the curry powder and cream.
- Mix the pasta and sauce together, and serve hot.
In my opinion, this Creamy Curry Pasta brings together the best of both worlds, blending comforting Italian pasta with the vibrant flavor of Indian-inspired curry.
With its simple preparation and quick cooking time, it’s an easy way to add fusion to your weeknight meal rotation! Give it a try and let me know what you think.
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