Description
A simple and fresh pasta dish featuring al dente spaghetti tossed with a flavorful cherry tomato sauce, garlic, red pepper flakes, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese, perfect for a quick and delicious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces spaghetti
Sauce
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ½ cup fresh basil chopped, plus more for serving
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining the pasta completely.
- Cook Tomatoes: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add cherry tomatoes and cook until they soften, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes.
- Add Seasonings: Stir in minced garlic, salt, and crushed red pepper. Cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
- Mash Tomatoes: Use the back of a spoon or a potato masher to carefully mash the tomatoes to release their juices. Continue cooking for 5 more minutes until tomatoes burst and create a sauce.
- Toss Pasta: Add the drained pasta on top of the tomato sauce along with chopped basil and grated Parmesan cheese. Toss well to combine.
- Adjust Sauce: Add reserved pasta water as needed to reach the desired sauce consistency.
- Serve: Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh basil and Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days or freeze the tomato sauce separately for up to 3 months.
- Make Ahead: The tomato sauce can be prepared 2-3 days in advance and combined with freshly cooked pasta when ready to serve.
- Substitutions: Any type of pasta can be used, and other tomato varieties like grape, Roma, or beefsteak tomatoes are suitable. For larger tomatoes, quarter them for better cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
