Description
A simple, vibrant burst cherry tomato pasta recipe featuring a flavorful sauce made by gently cooking cherry tomatoes with garlic, olive oil, and spices until they burst and create a fresh, chunky sauce. Tossed with pasta, Parmesan, and fresh basil, this dish offers a quick and delicious meal perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz. uncooked pasta
Sauce
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves (smashed)
- 1.5 lbs cherry tomatoes
- ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
- 1½ tsp. kosher salt
Finishing
- 1 oz. fresh grated Parmesan (about â…“ cup, plus more for serving)
- 1 cup basil leaves
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain well, then drizzle with a little olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside while preparing the sauce.
- Prepare garlic-infused oil: Heat a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the olive oil and smashed garlic cloves. Cook gently until the garlic becomes fragrant and softens, being careful not to let it brown to avoid bitterness.
- Add tomatoes and spices: Once garlic is fragrant, add the cherry tomatoes, kosher salt, and crushed red pepper flakes. Increase the heat to medium, and stir to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Cook and burst tomatoes: Continue cooking, stirring frequently. The cherry tomatoes will start to burst naturally. Use the back of a wooden spoon to gently crush some of the tomatoes as they soften. Cook for about 10 minutes or until the sauce begins to thicken, crushing more tomatoes as needed to create a chunky consistency.
- Toss pasta with sauce and finish: Pour the hot tomato sauce over the cooked pasta. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and stir thoroughly to coat the pasta, allowing the cheese to melt into the sauce. Finally, stir in the fresh basil leaves. Serve divided into bowls, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper if desired.
Notes
- Use good-quality extra-virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
- Be gentle when crushing the tomatoes to keep some texture in the sauce.
- For a spicier dish, increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
- Freshly grated Parmesan is preferred over pre-grated for optimal melt and flavor.
- Feel free to swap regular pasta for gluten-free or whole wheat varieties based on dietary preferences.
