Fresh and Easy Blush Sauce Recipe

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Blush sauce is a delicate tomato-cream sauce that tastes great over any kind of pasta.
A white plate of pasta with blush sauce

This blush sauce recipe is made with just a few fresh ingredients that come together quickly. It’s lighter than many blush sauce recipes. It’s perfect to make on a busy night but elegant enough to serve to guests.

A white plate of pasta with blush sauce

Blush sauce is a creamy tomato-based sauce with a unique twist. It gets its name from the pinkish color that results from the combination of tomatoes, and cream. The addition of garlic and wine elevates the flavors, making it a perfect sauce for pasta.

I will usually turn down a creamy pasta dish because they are heavey. But this blush sauce recipe is different! Combining fresh tomatoes with just a splash of heavy cream or milk is pure comfort food, and it doesn’t weigh you down.

Why you will love this blush sauce recipe

  • It’s quick! Dinner can be on the table in 30 minutes.
  • It’s versatile! Serve it plain, or add protein or vegetables (see the suggestions below).
  • It’s lighter with less cream and made with fresh, simple ingredients!
The ingredients: onions, garlic, basil,, tomatoes, cream, white wine & olive oil

Here is what you will need

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How to make the best blush sauce

Prepare the ingredients: Dice the cloves, garlic, and onions. If you are using fresh tomatoes, dice them up too. Measure the cream and wine and grab a large skillet.

blush sauce garlic and onions in pan

Step 1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, add the diced onions and garlic. Cook them for a few minutes until they become translucent and soft.

Step 2. Stir in the white wine and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes and reduce the heat to low.

garlic and onions in a pan with white wine

tomato sauce in a pan without cream

Step 3. Stir in the tomatoes and simmer over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes while stirring occasionally.

Step 4. Stir in the cream and chopped basil leaves and stir. Remove the sauce from the heat and serve over your favorite pasta.

blush sauce with cream mixed in a pan

Ingredient notes and substitutions

Tomatoes. This is a great recipe for using fresh tomatoes when they are in season. If you don’t have fresh tomatoes, you can use an equal amount of canned diced tomatoes in place of them.

Heavy Cream. I usually use cream since there is just a tiny amount of cream in this recipe. But if you prefer a lower fat content in your tomato cream sauce, you can use half and half or whole milk.

White Wine. The best white wine to use in this recipe is a sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio or an unoaked chardonnay.

These wines are mild in flavor and will add some depth to this sauce without overpowering it. White wine can be substituted with vegetable or chicken broth for an alcohol-free version.

Fresh Basil. One teaspoon of dried basil can be substituted for fresh basil and should be added early in the cooking cycle with the wine, not at the end of cooking the sauce. This is because dried herbs need to rehydrate to release their flavors. Fresh herbs, on the other hand, should be added at the very end of cooking to maintain their flavor.

bowl of pasta with blush sauce on it.

How to store leftover sauce

Store room temperature leftover blush sauce in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Reheat leftovers on top of the stove over low heat.

Freeze blush sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to three months in the freezer. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.

What to serve with homemade blush sauce

Serve this creamy tomato sauce over your favorite pasta, such as linguine, rotini, penne, or angel hair pasta, garnished with fresh parsley, basil, and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Add a side salad of arugula and homemade bread for a complete and delicious pasta dinner.

Other side dishes such as a spinach salad or a small healthy charcuterie board or a veggie board will also make a delicious, healthy meal.

Recipe variations

Veggie blush pasta – Make your homemade blush sauce healthier by adding a variety of sauteed vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini or broccoli to the sauce.

Mushroom and Spinach Blush Sauce – Just before serving the sauce, add sauteed mushrooms and spinach for an earthy flavor.

Add Protein – Just before serving stir in sauteed shrimp, scallops or diced chicken pieces for a protein-packed meal.

Spicy Blush Sauce – Add a pinch of pepper flakes or a drizzle of hot sauce to your blush sauce for some heat.

a big bowl of pasta with blush sauce

Tips

  • Choose a wine that you would enjoy drinking as the flavors concentrate in the sauce.
  • This sauce will be chunky, if you prefer a smooth pasta sauce, place the sauce in a blender or use an immersion blender to puree the tomatoes before adding the cream.
  • If you use fresh tomatoes, you might need to add a little bit of salt to taste. Just a dash of fine sea salt brings all of the flavors together.
  • Avoid overcooking the cream, as it can curdle or separate if subjected to high heat. Remove the sauce from the heat after the cream has been added.

Recipe FAQs

What is the difference between vodka sauce and blush sauce?

The main difference between the two sauces is that one is made with wine and the other is made with vodka. The alcohol in both sauces helps to emulsify the acidic ingredients with the cream.

Can I make blush sauce without alcohol?

Yes, you can make blush sauce without alcohol by substituting the wine with vegetable or chicken broth.

Can I make blush sauce dairy-free?

This is an easy recipe to convert to dairy-free without losing the great flavor. All that you need to do is replace the heavy cream or milk one-for-one with your favorite unsweetened plant-based milk such as almond, cashew or oat milk.

What is the best pasta to serve with blush sauce?

Some of the best pasta shapes for blush sauce are linguine, angel hair pasta. They are delicate and are perfect for blush sauce. Other shapes such as penne, fusilli, farfalle, and rigatoni are good choices too. The ridges on these pasta shapes help to hold the creamy sauce, making every bite flavorful.

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A white plate of pasta with blush sauce

Light and Easy Blush Sauce

Blush sauce is a delicate tomato-cream sauce that tastes great over any kind of pasta.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Click on serving size to scale this recipe

Course: Dinner Recipes
Cuisine: American Italian
Keyword: blush sauce recipe
Servings: 4
Calories: 105kcal
Author: Anne

Equipment

Scale this Recipe 4

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh diced or canned tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/4 cup diced onion
  • 1/4 cup white wine
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons chopped basil plus additional for garnish

Instructions

  • Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot add 1/4 cup diced onion, and 3 cloves garlic. Cook them for a few minutes until they become translucent and soft.
  • Stir in 1/4 cup white wine and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to low.
  • Stir in 2 cups fresh diced or canned tomatoes and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes over low heat while stirring occasionally
  • Add 1/4 cup heavy cream, 2 tablespoons chopped basil plus additional for garnishand remove the sauce from the heat serve the sauce over your favorite pasta.

Notes

This recipe serves 3 to four people, depending on how much sauce you like on your pasta.
Ingredient Notes/Substitutions
Tomatoes. This is a great recipe to use fresh tomatoes when they are in season. If you don’t have fresh tomatoes, you can use an equal amount of canned diced canned tomatoes in place of fresh.
Heavy Cream. Since there is just a small amount of cream in this recipe, I usually use cream. But if you prefer a lower fat content in your tomato cream sauce, you can use half and half or whole milk.
White Wine. The best white wine to use in this recipe is a sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio or an unoaked chardonnay. These wines are mild in flavor and will add a little bit of depth to this sauce without overpowering it. White wine can be substituted one for one with vegetable or chicken broth.
Fresh Basil. Fresh basil can be substituted with 1 teaspoon of dried basil and should be added early on in the cooking cycle with the wine, not at the end of cooking the sauce. This is because dried herbs need to rehydrate to release their flavors. Fresh herbs on the other hand should be added at the very end of cooking to maintain their flavor.
Dairy-Free Blush Sauce
Replace the heavy cream or milk one for one with your favorite unsweetened plant-based milk such as almond, cashew or oat milk.
Recipe Variations
Add sauteed or steamed vegetables such as broccoli, zucchini or peas to your pasta with blush sauce just before serving.
Top your pasta with sauce with grilled chicken breast or shrimp.
NUTRITION INFORMATION IS BASED ON SAUCE ONLY 4 SERVINGS

Nutrition

Serving: 7ounces | Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 220mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 840IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used

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