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Easy Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

A quick and easy pasta that's loaded with tomatoes and basil!

Course dinner, main, Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Keyword easy pasta recipe, Vegetarian pasta
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces spaghetti, cooked to package instructions
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 1/4 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 pints red cherry tomatoes
  • 1/3 cup chopped basil plus more for garnish
  • 1/2 cup shaved parmesan, separated
  • 1/2 teaspoon good quality flaked sea salt or kosher salt
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

Instructions

  1. Set a large pot of salted water to boil, cook pasta to package instructions. While waiting for water to boil and pasta to cook...

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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!