Description
A simple and vibrant pasta dish featuring al dente spaghetti tossed with a fresh, flavorful cherry tomato sauce infused with garlic, crushed red pepper, and fresh basil, finished with grated Parmesan cheese. Ready in 15 minutes, it’s a perfect quick meal full of bright, summery flavors.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 ounces spaghetti
Tomato Sauce
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
Finishing
- 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 rolling boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Prepare Sauce: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cherry tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic, salt, and crushed red pepper, cooking for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Mash Tomatoes: Use the back of a spoon or a potato masher to gently crush the tomatoes, releasing their juices. Continue cooking for 5 more minutes, allowing the tomatoes to burst and form a luscious sauce.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Transfer the drained pasta directly into the skillet with the tomato sauce. Add the chopped fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese. Toss everything together to combine, adding reserved pasta water gradually until the sauce reaches your preferred consistency.
- Serve: Plate the pasta immediately and garnish with additional fresh basil and Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
- Use heavily salted water when cooking pasta to enhance flavor.
- Adjust crushed red pepper quantity to control spiciness level.
- Reserved pasta water helps achieve a silky sauce texture.
- Fresh basil can be substituted with dried if fresh is unavailable, though fresh is preferred.
- For a vegan version, omit Parmesan cheese or use a plant-based alternative.
