Description
Cherry Tomato Pasta is a vibrant and flavorful dish featuring orecchiette pasta tossed in a rich sauce of blistered cherry tomatoes, garlic, and tomato paste, enhanced with a touch of balsamic vinegar and red pepper flakes. Finished with freshly grated Parmesan and aromatic basil, this quick and easy recipe comes together in about 20 minutes, perfect for a family-friendly meal bursting with fresh Italian flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- Kosher salt
- 12 oz. orecchiette
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 5 cups cherry tomatoes, halved (about 1 1/2 lb. total)
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, plus more for garnish
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 tsp sugar
- 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
- Chopped fresh basil leaves, for serving
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the orecchiette pasta until al dente, usually 2 to 3 minutes less than the package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta.
- Sauté Garlic: Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large straight-sided skillet over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and light golden, about 3 minutes.
- Add Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until the paste turns brick-red and fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Cook Tomatoes: Add the halved cherry tomatoes, red pepper flakes, and 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are tender and beginning to burst, about 5 minutes.
- Finish Sauce: Increase the heat to high, then add the balsamic vinegar and sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for 1 minute to meld the flavors.
- Toss Pasta in Sauce: Add the drained pasta, grated Parmesan cheese, and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water to the skillet. Stir and cook until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta evenly, about 2 minutes. Add additional reserved pasta water by the tablespoon if the sauce is too thick and needs thinning.
- Serve: Divide the pasta among serving bowls. Garnish with more Parmesan, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for heat, and chopped fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Cherry Tomato Pasta is bursting with fresh tomato flavor and fragrant basil, making it a perfect quick meal.
- This dish comes together in just about 20 minutes, making it an excellent weeknight dinner option.
- Reserved pasta water helps to thin and bind the sauce, so don’t skip this step for a perfectly textured dish.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level, adding more for extra heat if desired.
- Using freshly grated Parmesan yields better texture and flavor than pre-grated cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 606
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 833 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 71 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 13 mg
