Paccheri pasta served in a silky smooth, buttery tomato sauce with Parmigiano Reggiano and fresh basil. This dish is inspired by the legendary Paccheri alla Vittorio, a Michelin-star dish by Da Vittorio in Lombardy.
Prep - cut all the cherry tomatoes in half and roughly chop the San Marzanos. Peel the garlic cloves but keep them whole.
Heat 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan and add the whole peeled garlic cloves. Saute them gently until they start to take on some colour. Add the chilli flakes for a few seconds.
Next, add all of the chopped tomatoes with a good pinch of salt and pepper and let them simmer on a medium-low heat for 30 minutes. Stir it every now and then.
After 30 minutes, remove the garlic and blend the sauce with a regular or immersion blender until smooth. Pass the sauce through a sieve to get it extra smooth and back into the pan.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it well. Add the pasta and cook until al dente.
Keep the sauce on a low heat until the pasta is ready. Transfer the cooked pasta to the sauce and add the butter and Parmigiano Reggiano. Stir until the butter has melted and the pasta is evenly coated in the sauce.
Serve in bowls with some fresh basil and more Parmigiano Reggiano on top.
Notes
Prep ahead and storage - you can make the sauce in advance and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days or the freezer for up to 3 months.
Sauce alternative - if you can't find a good variety of fresh tomatoes, you can use 1 can (400g/14oz) of canned plum tomatoes (we use Mutti) and 1lb (450g) of fresh cherry tomatoes. Follow the recipe as directed.