Description
This simple yet incredibly flavorful cherry tomato spaghetti sauce is a weeknight lifesaver, bursting with sweet and tangy notes. It’s a quick and easy recipe that highlights the natural deliciousness of fresh cherry tomatoes.
Ingredients
- 2 pints (about 4 cups) cherry or grape tomatoes
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1–2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, adjust to taste)
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 pound spaghetti or your favorite pasta
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Wash cherry tomatoes. Mince garlic cloves.
- 2. Heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes; sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- 3. Add cherry tomatoes and increase heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes until tomatoes soften and burst. Gently mash some with a spoon.
- 4. Stir in balsamic vinegar and cook for 1 minute. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until sauce thickens and tomatoes break down.
- 5. Remove from heat. Stir in fresh basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- 6. Toss with cooked spaghetti, adding reserved pasta water if desired for a creamier consistency. Serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins