Description
A fresh and flavorful pasta dish featuring a vibrant cherry tomato basil sauce, ready in just 30 minutes. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners with minimal ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups cherry tomatoes (about 600g)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (45ml)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons)
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped (about 25g)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 12 ounces pasta (spaghetti, linguine, penne, or fusilli)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (about 50g, optional)
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients by rinsing cherry tomatoes and roughly chopping any large ones. Mince garlic and roughly chop basil leaves. Measure olive oil and red pepper flakes.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Scoop out 1/2 cup pasta water before draining and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Add cherry tomatoes, a pinch of salt, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir occasionally, gently pressing some tomatoes to release juices. Cook for 8-10 minutes until tomatoes break down into a chunky sauce.
- Add about 1/4 cup reserved pasta water to loosen sauce if too thick. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Stir in chopped fresh basil at the end.
- Add drained pasta to the skillet with sauce. Toss together over low heat, adding more pasta water if needed to coat noodles evenly.
- Serve immediately, topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, a drizzle of olive oil, and a few whole basil leaves.
Notes
Do not rush simmering the tomatoes to allow natural sweetness to develop. Save some pasta water to create a silky sauce. Add basil at the end to preserve flavor and color. Use good quality olive oil for best taste. Leftovers reheat well in a skillet with a splash of water or olive oil. For a richer sauce, stir in butter or cream at the end. Protein additions like grilled chicken or shrimp are great for a heartier meal.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 320
- Sodium: 280
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 1.5
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 10
Keywords: cherry tomato pasta, basil pasta, quick pasta recipe, easy weeknight dinner, fresh tomato sauce, vegetarian pasta