Description
Rustic cherry tomato pasta celebrates summer’s bounty with Mediterranean charm. Fresh herbs and garlic-infused olive oil elevate simple ingredients into a quick, irresistible meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Main Ingredients:
- 250 grams (8.8 ounces) spaghetti
- 400 grams (2.5 pounds) cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Large pinch of sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook pasta until perfectly tender, approximately 8-10 minutes. Carefully drain and reserve.
- Select a spacious skillet and warm olive oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers slightly.
- Introduce minced garlic and red pepper flakes, stirring rapidly to prevent burning and release aromatic flavors, about 30-45 seconds.
- Gently add whole cherry tomatoes with a sprinkle of kosher salt, allowing them to sizzle and gradually burst, creating a vibrant, rustic sauce. This process takes roughly 4-5 minutes.
- Lower the heat and fold the cooked pasta into the tomato mixture, ensuring each strand becomes luxuriously coated with the fragrant sauce.
- Remove skillet from heat and scatter freshly torn basil leaves throughout the pasta, providing a bright, herbaceous contrast.
- Transfer to serving plates and generously dust with finely grated Parmesan cheese, offering a rich, salty finish to the dish.
Notes
- Choose ripe, sweet cherry tomatoes for the most vibrant flavor and natural sweetness in the sauce.
- Gently crush some tomatoes while cooking to release more juices and create a more robust sauce.
- Try adding a splash of white wine or a dollop of cream for extra depth and richness.
- For a vegan version, replace Parmesan with nutritional yeast or a plant-based Parmesan alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 321 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 7 mg