Description
Craft a delicious and easy cherry tomato spaghetti sauce bursting with fresh, sweet, and savory flavors that cling beautifully to your pasta. This recipe is your new go-to for a quick, gourmet weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- 1 pint (about 2 cups) cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small shallot, finely diced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, roughly chopped, plus more for garnish
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- 8 ounces spaghetti or your favorite pasta
- Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Prep Your Ingredients: Halve or quarter cherry tomatoes. Mince garlic and finely dice shallot. Chop fresh basil.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shallot and cook until softened (2-3 minutes). Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes; sauté until fragrant (30-60 seconds), being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Simmer the Sauce: Add halved cherry tomatoes, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Increase heat to medium-high and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes soften, blister, and burst. Gently crush any remaining whole tomatoes with a spoon. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for another 5-7 minutes.
- Combine & Serve: While sauce simmers, cook spaghetti according to package directions, reserving about 1 cup of pasta water before draining. Add cooked pasta and 1/4 – 1/2 cup reserved pasta water to the skillet. Toss vigorously until the sauce emulsifies and coats the pasta. Stir in fresh basil. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve immediately, garnished with more fresh basil and Parmesan cheese if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins