Meet your new favorite comfort dish: -Dried Tomato Cream with Spinach & Basil is impossibly creamy, loaded with flavor, and comes together in a flash. Imagine plump, golden ravioli swaddled in a sun-dried tomato-studded cream sauce, generously speckled with vibrant spinach and basil, and finished with a shower of Parmesan—this is the meal that turns an ordinary evening into something delightfully special. Trust me, you’ll want to put this recipe on repeat all season long!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a handful of kitchen staples to create the magic of -Dried Tomato Cream with Spinach & Basil. Each ingredient is thoughtfully chosen to add depth, contrast, and a pop of color to every forkful. Simple, yes, but utterly essential for building those classic cozy Italian flavors.
- Ravioli: Go for cheese or spinach ravioli—each pocket delivers creamy, tender bites that soak up the sauce beautifully.
- Olive oil: A splash sets the stage for sautéing and infuses a subtle, peppery richness.
- Garlic: Just two cloves, finely minced, bring a gentle heat and aromatic base to your sauce.
- Sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil): Their concentrated tangy sweetness livens up every mouthful and infuses the dish with irresistible color.
- Heavy cream (or cooking cream): This luscious base transforms the sauce into a silken, dreamy coat for your ravioli.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated is best—it melts effortlessly, adding depth, savoriness, and a hint of nutty complexity.
- Fresh spinach: A whole two cups wilt down tenderly, bringing earthy notes and eye-popping green vibrance.
- Fresh basil: Chopped basil lifts the whole dish with a fresh, peppery-sweet finish that sings in harmony with the tomatoes.
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper: Season to taste; a light hand accentuates every other ingredient.
- Optional Garnish: More Parmesan and basil leaves add a pretty finish and extra aromatic punch—don’t skip them!
How to Make -Dried Tomato Cream with Spinach & Basil
Step 1: Cook the Ravioli
Start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a gentle boil. Drop in your cheese or spinach ravioli and cook according to the package instructions, usually just a few minutes until they float to the top and are irresistibly tender. Drain them with care and set aside—these golden packages are about to get even more delicious.
Step 2: Sauté Garlic & Sun-Dried Tomatoes
In a large skillet, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and let it sizzle for about 30 seconds, just until fabulously fragrant. Toss in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another minute or two. The tomatoes soak up that garlicky oil, giving you the first glimmer of flavor-packed goodness.
Step 3: Create the Creamy Sauce
Pour in the heavy cream and stir gently, bringing the mixture to a soft simmer. Sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese, whisking as it melts and fuses with the creamy sauce. Watch for that magical thickening—your kitchen will smell dreamy at this point!
Step 4: Wilt the Spinach
Add the fresh spinach to the skillet and gently stir. The leaves will seem like a lot at first but will quickly wilt down, folding into the sauce and turning a vivid shade of green. This is what brings gorgeous color and garden-fresh brightness to your -Dried Tomato Cream with Spinach & Basil.
Step 5: Finish with Ravioli and Basil
Slide in the cooked ravioli, folding them gently through the sauce to coat each one. Sprinkle the chopped basil over everything and give it a final stir. Taste and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve right away while everything’s piping hot and impossibly creamy.
How to Serve -Dried Tomato Cream with Spinach & Basil
Garnishes
Crown your finished -Dried Tomato Cream with Spinach & Basil with a flurry of extra grated Parmesan and a handful of fresh basil leaves. These finishing touches not only make it stunning to look at but also layer in even more flavor and aroma. The fresh basil perfumes every bite, and that snowy Parmesan is pure savory decadence.
Side Dishes
This dish pairs beautifully with a simple green salad tossed in a zippy vinaigrette—it offers the perfect, crisp contrast to the luscious sauce. Whatever you do, don’t forget a basket of crusty bread! You’ll want every crumb to swipe through that creamy, tomato-kissed sauce.
Creative Ways to Present
If you’re entertaining, serve your -Dried Tomato Cream with Spinach & Basil in shallow bowls with a swirl of sauce and garnishes on top for a restaurant-worthy look. Or, for a cozy night in, go family-style and place the skillet smack in the center of the table—let everyone dig in while it’s still bubbling and irresistible.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you find yourself with leftovers (lucky you!), transfer the -Dried Tomato Cream with Spinach & Basil to an airtight container and refrigerate promptly. It’ll stay delicious for up to 2 days, making lunch the next day something to look forward to.
Freezing
While the creamy sauce is best enjoyed fresh, you can freeze the fully-cooled dish in a freezer-safe container for up to a month. Just be aware that the sauce might separate a little when thawed, but a gentle reheat (and maybe a splash of cream) brings it back together.
Reheating
To wake up leftovers, warm gently in a skillet over low heat, stirring frequently to avoid sticking or overcooking the ravioli. Add a touch more cream or even a splash of milk to loosen the sauce—this helps recapture all that silky freshness and makes the -Dried Tomato Cream with Spinach & Basil as enticing as day one.
FAQs
Can I use frozen ravioli for this recipe?
Frozen ravioli works wonderfully! Just cook according to package directions, ensuring it’s heated through and tender before adding to the sauce.
Is there a dairy-free option for the sauce?
Absolutely! Swap the cream for a plant-based alternative like coconut cream or oat cooking cream, and use a vegan Parmesan substitute to make the -Dried Tomato Cream with Spinach & Basil entirely dairy-free.
What other greens can I use instead of spinach?
You can experiment with baby kale, Swiss chard, or even arugula for a peppery kick—all wilt beautifully into the sauce and add their own unique flair.
Can I make the sauce ahead of time?
Yes! Prepare the sauce a day ahead and store it in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, gently reheat, add fresh-cooked ravioli, toss well, and finish with basil for maximum brightness.
What kind of sun-dried tomatoes work best?
Look for sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil for this dish—they’re tender, easy to chop, and blend seamlessly into the sauce. Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes deliver bolder flavor and an irresistible richness to the -Dried Tomato Cream with Spinach & Basil.
Final Thoughts
If you crave a dish that’s equal parts comforting and restaurant-worthy, don’t let another week go by without making -Dried Tomato Cream with Spinach & Basil. It’s easy, crowd-pleasing, and guaranteed to satisfy. Go ahead—serve up a bowl and savor every luscious, flavor-packed forkful!