Creamy Red Pepper Sauce

This Creamy Red Pepper Cream Sauce is made with cooked fresh peppers passed through a food mill then heated with a little cream and tossed with your favourite type of pasta. So good and perfect for dinner tonight.

 

This sauce is one of my favourite go to recipes for a delicious homemade Sauce. I will be the first to admit that I was so lucky to have a mother-in-law who is not only a great cook and a great teacher,  but also a wonder in the vegetable garden department.

Every year I would tell her ,” You plant enough vegetables  to feed the country”,  but when I was given one of her bags  full of fresh delights from the garden I never complained.

I remember one year when there was an overload of peppers. I was so glad to receive that bag full, and I knew exactly what I was going to do with those peppers!

First off I made a big pan of Pepper Pepper Cream Sauce, and some I Roasted and the rest I froze so that I would have them handy for our next craving of this amazing Red Pepper Sauce.

Recipe Ingredients

• Peppers – bell peppers – red, yellow or green or a mix
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Water
• Cream – whole, heavy or whipping cream with at least 30% fat
• Pasta – fettuccine or short pasta with ridges
• Parmesan Cheese – freshly grated

How to make Pepper Sauce

In a medium pot add olive oil, cut cleaned peppers, salt and water, cook on medium heat for approximately 20 minutes until tender.

When the peppers are cooked, place a clean bowl underneath the food mill, using the smallest holed disk begin to pass the cooked peppers.

Depending on the size of your food mill you might have to pass a few peppers at a time.

Pass a spatula underneath the disk every now and again to loosen the pulp into the bowl, and keep turning because there is a lot of pulp in these peppers.

Once all the peppers have been passed, pour the pepper sauce back into the medium pot, place on medium heat and add the cream, heat until boiling, simmer on a low boil for approximately 5 minutes.

Toss the sauce with your favourite cooked pasta. Delicious with a sprinkle of freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Tips for the Best and Creamiest Red Pepper Sauce

Remember do not use a blender, you need a food mill, because we want the pulp from the peppers not the skin. Be careful not to let any pepper skin fall into the bowl, remove it if this happens.

I usually make this dish with a couple of red peppers and either a green or yellow one, the Italian thinks the sauce is too sweet with all red peppers.

Be sure to simmer the peppers with a little olive oil, salt and some water, don’t boil them, adding a little salt and olive oil gives them a wonderful taste.

The Best Pasta to use:

I love long pasta of any type, and I know a lot of people (my husband) will argue with me about the best type of pasta to use in this sauce, therefore I will leave it up to you. I actually prepared this sauce with fettuccine but a short penne or rigatoni would be perfect also.

When cooking your pasta remember always al dente, and boil uncovered in salted boiling water, be sure to stir occasionally. Be sure to buy a good quality pasta and follow the cooking directions on the box, they are usually very accurate.

When measuring the pasta it’s good to remember that dried pasta will almost double when cooked. So if you need 3 cups cooked measure out approximately 1 1/2 – 1 3/4 cups dry.

How to Freeze Peppers

I always freeze my peppers raw. I clean them, quarter them and place them in freezer bags or airtight freezer containers. They will last up to 12 months in the freezer. When using the peppers for this sauce there is no need to thaw them first.

How to store the Pepper Cream Sauce

The sauce can be stored for up to five days in the fridge, be sure to store it in an airtight container.

More Pasta Cream Sauces you may Enjoy!

• Smoked Salmon Cream Sauce
• Easy Tomato Cream Sauce for Ravioli
• Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce
• Baked Creamy Cheesy White Sauce Gnocchi
• Homemade Creamy White Sauce Lasagna

Every time I go visit my sister in Toronto, it is the first dish she asks for. She always tells me this Creamy Red Pepper Sauce is her favourite sauce over pasta. I hope you try it and let me know what you think too. Buon Appetito!

Republished from January 13, 2014.