Easy Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
A quick and easy pasta that's loaded with tomatoes and basil!
Servings 4
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti, cooked to package instructions
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- ¼ cup good quality extra virgin olive oil
- 2 pints red cherry tomatoes
- ⅓ cup chopped basil plus more for garnish
- ½ cup shaved parmesan, separated
- ½ teaspoon good quality flaked sea salt or kosher salt
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup toasted pine nuts
Instructions
- Set a large pot of salted water to boil, cook pasta to package instructions. While waiting for water to boil and pasta to cook...
- Peel and mince garlic. Place a large pan on medium/high heat. Add olive oil. When hot add tomatoes, cook, stirring for about five minutes, lowering heat a little if necessary. While tomatoes cook, chop basil and shave Parmesan.
- After tomatoes have cooked for five minutes, add garlic, basil, 1/4 cup parmesan, sea salt and red pepper flakes. Stir and use a potato masher or spatula to smash tomatoes, simmering for 4-5 minutes, until sauce thickens. Turn off heat.
- Strain pasta (do not rinse) add pasta to pan with tomatoes. Toss. Place pasta in a large bowl, garnish with more basil, remaining parmesan cheese and pine nuts. Serve!