Cherry Tomato Pasta (Print Version)
A quick, vibrant dish with sautéed cherry tomatoes, garlic, and basil. Ready in 15 minutes for a delicious meal.
# Ingredients:
→ Pasta Essentials
01 -
160g (5.5 oz) spaghetti or your favorite pasta
02 -
400g (14 oz) cherry or grape tomatoes (mixed varieties optional)
03 -
2 big cloves of garlic
04 -
2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil, plus a bit extra for topping
05 -
Some fresh basil leaves, and extra for sprinkling on top
06 -
Pinch of salt, adjusted to taste
07 -
Optional: A shake of red pepper flakes
08 -
Optional: Grated parmesan cheese for serving
# Steps:
01 -
Chop up the garlic finely, then toss it into a big pan or skillet with the olive oil. Cook it gently on low heat until fragrant but not browned. Add red pepper flakes now, if you'd like.
02 -
Cut the tomatoes into halves or smaller chunks, depending on their size. Toss them into the garlic and oil mixture, sprinkle in salt, and let them cook gently on medium heat.
03 -
Bring a big pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the pasta, timing it so you drain it a couple of minutes before it's fully cooked according to the package.
04 -
As the tomatoes soften, use a spoon to gently press some of them and let their juices out. Add a scoop of the hot pasta water to the pan and keep cooking the mixture until it becomes saucy.
05 -
Once the pasta is just short of being done, drain it and toss it straight into the tomato sauce. Pour in a splash of pasta water, tear up some basil leaves, and mix it all together.
06 -
Keep stirring the pasta in the pan, letting it soak up the sauce and finish cooking. Toss in grated parmesan (if using), adding more pasta water to keep it smooth if needed.
07 -
Check the taste and add more salt if you need to. Once the pasta is perfectly cooked, drizzle on some olive oil, sprinkle extra basil, and maybe some parmesan. Serve it up hot!
# Helpful Notes:
01 -
Using the starchy water from cooking pasta helps create a silky, clingy sauce.
02 -
Spaghetti or linguine tends to work best, but any pasta shape will do.