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Easy Fresh Cherry Tomato Pasta

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A quick and simple pasta recipe featuring fresh cherry tomatoes, garlic, and basil, ready in 30 minutes. Perfect for a light, satisfying dinner with a fresh, vibrant sauce.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (about 300g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 8 oz (225g) spaghetti or linguine pasta
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • A handful fresh basil leaves, torn
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • 1/3 cup (about 30g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • Lemon zest from half a lemon (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add about 1 tablespoon of salt. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Reserve 1 cup (240 ml) pasta cooking water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes if using. Sauté gently for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Add halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet. Stir to coat in garlic oil and cook for 5-7 minutes until tomatoes soften and start to burst but retain some shape.
  4. Season tomato mixture with salt and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen.
  5. Drain pasta and add directly to skillet with tomatoes. Toss over low heat to combine and let pasta soak up tomato juices. Add lemon zest and torn basil leaves, stirring gently.
  6. Remove from heat and sprinkle generously with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Toss once more and serve immediately. Optionally drizzle with extra olive oil.

Notes

Do not rush the tomatoes; let them soften slowly to unlock sweetness. Keep garlic cooking on medium heat to avoid burning. Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Add basil at the end to preserve its aroma and color. For extra richness, stir in a small knob of butter before serving. Fresh cherry tomatoes are best; grape or roma tomatoes can be used but flavor differs. Parmesan cheese is optional and can be replaced with nutritional yeast for vegan version.

Nutrition

Keywords: cherry tomato pasta, easy pasta recipe, quick dinner, fresh tomato sauce, garlic pasta, basil pasta, vegetarian pasta

Find it online: https://chloeplate.com/easy-fresh-cherry-tomato-pasta-recipe-30-minutes-perfect-for-dinner/