Date Night Rigatoni – Fraiche Living

Nothing says “date night” like a comforting bowl of pasta, a glass of wine, and a cozy night in. This Date Night Rigatoni is the perfect dish to impress without the stress!

Food is love, and there is no better way to win someone over than with a homemade meal. Honestly, my husband swooned me this way, so I can vouch for its magic!

Here’s the secret to why this recipe is so good: it’s packed with four different hidden veggies. Yup, you heard me right! Roasting veggies and then blending them creates the dreamiest, silkiest sauce that’s full of deep flavours.

Let’s turn on some music, pour ourselves a glass of wine, and get cooking shall we?

To be clear: cooking meals like this isn’t just for special occasions. You deserve to eat like this every night of the week. No need to wait for a date night to treat yourself. Here’s how….

Enter: Fraîche Table (where I snagged this recipe)! Imagine having 20 of my best cookbooks, filled with quick and easy recipes, at your fingertips. But instead of flipping pages, your meals for each week are planned out for you AND the grocery list is automatically created for you. Just think of all the time and headaches you will be saving. Trust me, dinnertimes don’t have to be difficult.

Consider this pasta recipe your gentle nudge to give it a try. Thank me later… 😉 Oh, you can sign up HERE for a free trial before you commit.

Jump to Recipe

How to Make A Roasted Veggie Pasta Sauce

The star of this dish is the roasted veggie sauce. It’s not only easy to make but also incredibly rewarding: it’s so easy it feels like cheating. Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of the veggies, adding layers of flavour that are pure magic.

To make this Date Night Rigatoni, you’ll be roasting:

• Sweet bell peppers
• Tomatoes
• Carrots
• Onions
• Garlic: Obviously. Roasted garlic makes everything better.

Once roasted to perfection, these veggies are blended into a silky smooth sauce that’ll make you feel like a gourmet chef. Chefs kiss!

What to Serve with Rigatoni

Why stop with just the pasta?! Here are some more recipes to round out the meal. And don’t forget the romantic music and candlelight!

Best Wine Pairings for Date Night Rigatoni

Red Wines:

Chianti Classico – High acidity balances the tomatoes, and its earthy, herbal notes match the sausage and roasted peppers.
Barbera d’Asti – Juicy and food-friendly with enough acidity to handle the cream and tomatoes.
Zinfandel – Its ripe fruit and spice make it a great match for the sausage and roasted flavors.
Grenache/Garnacha – Smooth and fruity, pairs well with smoky roasted peppers and sausage.

White Wines (if you prefer white):

Vermentino – Crisp with citrusy, herbal notes that work well with roasted veggies and sausage.
Chardonnay (lightly oaked or unoaked) – Creamy enough to match the cheese but still fresh enough to handle the acidity.
Viognier – Aromatic and full-bodied, with stone fruit notes that complement the roasted peppers.

Simple Dinner Recipes

If you love simple and nourishing meals like this, you’ll love Fraîche Table! My done-for-you meal plan takes the guesswork out of dinner with customizable weekly meal plans, automatic grocery lists, and easy-to-follow recipes designed for busy lives. No more last-minute dinner stress my friends! Just fresh, wholesome meals the whole family will love. Start today to eat better for free HERE!

Date Night Rigatoni

Date Night Rigatoni

Nothing says “date night” like a comforting bowl of pasta, a glass of wine, and a cozy night in. This Date Night Rigatoni is the perfect dish to impress without the stress! The star of this dish has to be the roasted veggie sauce with 5 hidden veggies.

Ingredients

• 1
  sweet bell pepper
  halved & seeds removed
• 2
  tomatoes
  halved
• 1
  carrot
  peeled & chopped
• 1/2
  yellow onion
  quartered
• 2
  tablespoons
  olive oil
  divided
• 1/2
  teaspoon
  Italian seasoning
• 1/8
  teaspoon
  red chili flakes
  (optional)
• Salt & pepper
  to taste
• 1
  garlic head
• 1/2
  cup
  stock
  chicken or vegetable
• 1/4
  cup
  cream cheese
• 300
  grams
  rigatoni
• 2
  Italian sausages
  casings removed
• 1/2
  – 156 mL
  can
  tomato paste
• 1/4
  cup
  shredded Parmesan
  to garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F and line a baking dish or baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Toss the bell pepper, tomatoes, carrot, and onion with 1 tablespoon of the oil, Italian seasoning, red chili flakes (if using), and season with salt and pepper. Cut the top off the garlic head, drizzle with remaining olive oil, wrap in tin foil and add to the baking dish. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the vegetables are golden and soft. Set aside to cool.

3. Squeeze the head of garlic to extract the roasted garlic from the skin. Add the cooked vegetables, roasted garlic, stock, and cream cheese to a blender, and blend until smooth.

4. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook until al dente, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water.

5. While the pasta cooks, add the Italian sausage to a large frying pan over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon and stirring occasionally. When the sausage is browned, reduce the heat to medium, add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes. Stir in the blended roasted vegetable pasta sauce. Bring to a simmer then stir in the cooked pasta. Season with salt and pepper to taste, adding a splash of pasta water as needed to create a velvety sauce. Garnish with the Parmesan before serving.