Description
A vibrant and incredibly flavorful cherry tomato spaghetti sauce, perfect for a quick weeknight meal or an elegant dinner. This recipe highlights the natural sweetness of cherry tomatoes for a fresh, authentic taste.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs (approx. 4 cups) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1 tsp sea salt, or to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
- 10–12 oz spaghetti or your preferred pasta
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water (or more)
- Optional: Pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- 1. Prep Tomatoes: Wash and halve your cherry tomatoes.
- 2. Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- 3. Cook Tomatoes: Add cherry tomatoes to the pan, season with salt and pepper. Increase heat to medium-high and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring and gently crushing some tomatoes as they soften and burst.
- 4. Boil Pasta: While sauce cooks, boil spaghetti in well-salted water according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- 5. Add Herbs: Remove tomato sauce from heat. Stir in fresh basil and red pepper flakes (if using).
- 6. Combine & Serve: Add drained pasta to the sauce. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water as needed to create a silky sauce that coats the pasta. Drizzle with extra olive oil and garnish with fresh basil before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins