Make it at home
How to make Aakhri Pasta (Pink Sauce Pasta) at home.
Aakhri Pasta (Pink Sauce Pasta) takes 30 minutes and serves 3. This guide gives the ingredients in cups and spoons, the steps in order and the mistakes that most often go wrong.
From the Tapri Chai kitchen · November 2026 · 3 min read
Time
30 minutes
Serves
3
Skill
Easy
Method
Boil and simmer
What you need
Quantities serve 3. Use ripe tomatoes or a good canned tomato puree.
- 250 g penne pasta
- 2 tbsp butter or oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped, and 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 ripe tomatoes, pureed (or 1 cup tomato puree)
- 1/2 cup cream or 1/4 cup cream and 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup mixed vegetables (capsicum, broccoli, corn)
- 1 tsp chilli flakes, 1 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp black pepper, salt
- Grated cheese, to finish (optional)
Step by step
Cook the pasta while you make the sauce, and save a cup of the pasta water.
Boil the pasta
Cook the pasta in well-salted water until al dente. Reserve a cup of the water, then drain.
Start the sauce
Melt the butter, cook the onion until soft, add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the tomato puree and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until thick.
Season
Add the chilli flakes, oregano, black pepper and salt.
Add the cream
Lower the heat, stir in the cream and simmer for 2 minutes. The sauce will turn pink.
Add the vegetables
Stir in the vegetables and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until just tender.
Combine
Add the pasta, and a splash of pasta water if needed, and toss until coated. Top with cheese and serve hot.
01
Tips for a better result
Balance the tomato and cream.
- Cook the tomato until it is thick and no longer raw-tasting before adding cream.
- Keep the heat low once the cream goes in to avoid curdling.
- Use the pasta water to loosen the sauce.
02
Mistakes to avoid
Common problems:
- Adding cream to a very hot, acidic sauce, which makes it split.
- Overcooking the pasta so it goes soft.
- Undercooking the tomato, which leaves the sauce sharp.
03
Shopping for it in Canada
Everything is a supermarket item.
- Pasta: penne or fusilli from any supermarket.
- Cream: 10 or 18 percent cooking cream, or 35 percent whipping cream for richer sauce.
- Vegetables: use whatever is in season.
- Chilli flakes: from the spice aisle.
04
Or let us make it
The sauce is not difficult, but a good one comes from a well-balanced blend of tomato and cream, which is easier when made in larger batches. Aakhri Pasta is $14.99 CAD on our menu, at 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Barrhaven, Ottawa, Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm, closed Mondays.
Questions, answered.
How long does Aakhri Pasta (Pink Sauce Pasta) take to make?
About 30 minutes from start to finish for 3.
Can I make Aakhri Pasta (Pink Sauce Pasta) ahead of time?
Make the sauce a day ahead and reheat gently. Cook the pasta fresh.
Can I make it without cream?
Yes. Use a mix of milk and a little cornflour, or cashew cream, for a lighter sauce. It will be less rich.
What do I serve with Aakhri Pasta (Pink Sauce Pasta)?
Garlic bread or fries, and a cold drink.
Where can I order Aakhri Pasta (Pink Sauce Pasta) in Ottawa?
Tapri Chai in Barrhaven serves it. Aakhri Pasta is $14.99 CAD on our menu. Tapri Chai is also listed on DoorDash and SkipTheDishes for delivery in Barrhaven and nearby parts of south Ottawa, so check which app serves your address.
At Tapri Chai
Taste it for yourself.
Our kitchen in Barrhaven is 100% vegetarian. 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Ottawa. Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm. Closed Mondays.