Creamy Tomato Pasta with Garlic Pangrattato
By Robin Tasker · Serves 4 · 25 min
protein +
EggsSalmonChicken breastFibre & prebiotics +
Oat branRolled oatsBanana (firm)CarrotOmega-3 fats +
SalmonSardinesCanned tunaThree lenses: how gentle on the gut, how nourishing, how tasty — because gentle isn't the same as healthy. How the scores work →
A gentle, creamy tomato pasta built on tomato paste and onion-free stock rather than tins of tomatoes, topped with toasted garlic breadcrumbs for crunch.
A big tin of tomatoes can be a lot for a sensitive gut — all that acidity in one hit. This creamy tomato pasta gets the same comforting, tomatoey flavour from a spoonful of tomato paste cooked out with stock and softened with cream, so it's rounder and gentler.
The toasted garlic crumbs on top are what make it feel special: a savoury crunch over a soft, creamy bowl.
Ingredients
- Crumbs*
- 40 g breadcrumbs (fresh or dried)
- 1 tbsp garlic-infused oil
- Pasta*
- 350 g pasta (white)
- 60 g tomato paste
- 1 tbsp garlic-infused oil
- 200 ml onion-free stock
- 100 ml cream
- 20 g butter
- 30 g parmesan, finely grated
Method
- Toast the crumbs: warm the garlic-infused oil in a pan, add the breadcrumbs and stir for 4–5 minutes until golden and crisp. Tip out and set aside.
- In the same pan, warm the second tablespoon of garlic-infused oil and the butter, then stir in the tomato paste and cook it for 2 minutes — cooking it out takes away the raw, sharp edge.
- Pour in the stock and let it bubble for a couple of minutes, then stir in the cream and parmesan to make a smooth, creamy tomato sauce. Season.
- Cook the pasta until just tender, then drain and toss through the sauce with a splash of cooking water.
- Serve topped with the toasted garlic crumbs.
Gentler swaps
Gentler tomato: cooked-out tomato paste with onion-free stock and cream is rounder and less acidic than a tin of tomatoes.
The crunch: toasted garlic breadcrumbs give a savoury crunch over the creamy sauce.
For the family
Cook once — your gentle version, plus how to pep it up for everyone else.
Make the one pan of sauce. Stir chilli flakes, fresh basil or crushed garlic through the others' portions and finish with extra parmesan — yours keeps the gentle creamy tomato.
Scores are modelled estimates, not medical advice. Everyone's gut is different, and tolerance changes over time. Reintroduce foods one at a time, and follow your own medical team's advice.