Simple Tomato Basil Spaghetti: A Quick Homemade Delight
This homemade tomato basil spaghetti combines fresh cherry tomatoes, aromatic garlic, and fragrant basil into a quick and easy dish perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Prep
: 10
Total
: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds spaghetti Use your favorite brand
- 4 cups grape tomatoes Halved
- 6 cloves garlic Minced
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 0.75 teaspoon salt Adjust to taste
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper Freshly ground
- 1 cup fresh basil Roughly chopped
- 1 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese Plus more for serving
- 1.5 cups reserved pasta water
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a vigorous boil, then add the spaghetti. Cook it until al dente following the package directions. Retain 1.5 cups of the pasta water before draining.
- While the pasta is cooking, warm olive oil in a broad saucepan over medium heat. Introduce the minced garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the halved grape tomatoes into the saucepan. Sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Sauté the tomatoes for about 8-10 minutes, occasionally stirring until they soften and begin to release their juices.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and mix in the chopped fresh basil.
- Introduce the drained spaghetti to the tomato-basil mixture. Start with 3/4 cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss to combine, adding more water if necessary to achieve a silky sauce that clings to the spaghetti.
- Gently fold in the grated Pecorino Romano cheese. Toss again to ensure the cheese melds into the sauce seamlessly.
- Immediately serve, embellishing with extra Pecorino Romano as preferred. Relish!
Notes
Spice it up by adding a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes during the garlic sauté. For added creaminess, incorporate a few tablespoons of mascarpone cheese or a handful of sautéed spinach.