A rich pasta dish featuring creamy Cajun-spiced sauce, roasted bell peppers, and smoked paprika. Ready in 40 minutes.
# Ingredient List:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz penne or fettuccine
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 large red bell peppers, roasted, peeled, and sliced
03 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
07 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - ½ teaspoon salt
09 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
10 - ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
11 - ¼ cup vegetable broth
12 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
→ Garnish
13 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
14 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese for serving
# Directions:
01 - Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup of pasta water.
02 - While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 3 minutes until softened.
03 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in Cajun seasoning and smoked paprika; cook for 30 seconds to release flavors.
04 - Add roasted bell peppers to the skillet and sauté for 2 minutes.
05 - Pour in heavy cream and vegetable broth, stirring to combine. Simmer for 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.
06 - Stir in Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper until smooth. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water as needed.
07 - Toss cooked pasta with the sauce until well coated. Heat gently for 1–2 minutes.
08 - Transfer to serving dishes immediately. Garnish with fresh parsley and extra grated Parmesan cheese.
