Description
A simple and flavorful pasta dish featuring spaghetti tossed in a fresh cherry tomato sauce with garlic, basil, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner with bright, homey flavors.
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
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Sauté tomatoes: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cherry tomatoes and cook until they soften, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic and seasonings: Stir in the minced garlic, salt, and crushed red pepper. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Mash tomatoes: Use the back of a spoon or potato masher to gently crush the tomatoes, releasing their juices. Continue cooking until the tomatoes burst and form a sauce, about 5 more minutes.
- Toss pasta and sauce: Transfer the drained pasta into the skillet with the tomato sauce. Add the chopped basil and grated Parmesan cheese. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Serve: Plate immediately and garnish with additional fresh basil and Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 4-5 days in the fridge; tomato sauce freezes well for up to 3 months.
- Make Ahead: The sauce can be prepared 2-3 days in advance and combined with freshly cooked pasta when ready to serve.
- Substitutions: Use any pasta type you prefer and substitute cherry tomatoes with grape, Roma, or beefsteak tomatoes (quarter large tomatoes for best results).
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
