Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

This easy pasta with cherry tomatoes is the perfect dinner for busy weeknights. Made with just a few simple ingredients and ready in under 20 minutes, it’s a light, fresh, and flavorful dish that the whole family will love. Whether you're low on time or just craving something quick and delicious, this cherry tomato pasta recipe delivers every time!

 

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Pasta: You can use any pasta for this recipe. Our favorite is homemade sourdough pasta, easily cut into spaghetti or fettuccini.
• Cherry or grape tomatoes: You'll need 1 pint of tomatoes, but feel free to incorporate more if you have extra. If cherry or grape tomatoes are unavailable, choose a low-moisture option like the Roma tomato.
• Extra virgin olive oil: In a recipe like this, selecting the finest extra virgin olive oil is essential. Given the limited ingredients involved, its impact on the overall flavor of the sauce is significant. High-quality olive oil allows its exquisite taste to shine through and greatly enhances the final flavor of the dish.
• Fresh garlic: We use six medium-sized garlic cloves because we love garlic. It's so good for you! Feel free to adjust this ingredient to taste.
• Fresh basil leaves: For the best taste in tomato sauce, it's always best to use fresh herbs. Fresh parsley is also a good herb in pasta dishes with tomatoes.
• Parmesan cheese: Grated, shaved, or shredded. Parmesan cheese tastes amazing any way you slice it!
• Salt and cracked red pepper flakes: Salt plays a crucial role in enhancing the robust flavor of tomatoes, so it's advisable not to omit this ingredient entirely. However, if necessary, the amount of salt can be reduced. Red pepper flakes provide a pleasant spiciness that complements the dish's freshness. If a milder option is preferred, black pepper can be an alternative.
• Optional: Adding a slight drizzle of balsamic vinegar to the finished dish creates an incredible flavor enhancement!

How to make it

The time-saving aspect of this dinner is that you'll simultaneously cook the pasta while preparing the sauce. Follow these steps, and you can have it ready in under 20 minutes from start to finish!

Step 1: Boil the water

Start by bringing a generous amount of salted water to a vigorous boil in a large pot. While waiting for the water to reach a boil, prepare the sauce.

Step 2: Cook the sauce

Take a large skillet and place it over medium heat, then add the olive oil. Once the oil is sufficiently heated and begins to shimmer, incorporate the garlic and cook until it becomes aromatic, which typically takes about 2 minutes. Cut the tomatoes in half while the skillet is heating.

Proceed by adding the tomatoes and salt, and continue cooking until the tomatoes turn soft, typically for about 5 minutes.

Step 3: Cook the pasta

While the sauce is cooking, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until "al dente" according to the package instructions.

If you are using our sourdough pasta recipe, cook it for 4-5 minutes or until it reaches your preferred firmness.

Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and set it aside. Drain the cooked pasta and transfer it to the skillet.

Step 4: Toss the ingredients

Thoroughly coat the pasta with the sauce, ensuring that the parmesan cheese, chopped basil, and cracked red pepper flakes are evenly distributed. Add a few tablespoons of pasta water until your pasta sauce is the desired consistency. Season to taste, and promptly serve while still hot.

What to serve with cherry tomato pasta

While this pasta dish is already delicious, you can add chicken or shrimp to boost your protein. Pair it with a simple side salad, and you'll have a satisfying meal.

A side of sourdough bread, sourdough focaccia, or soft sourdough dinner rolls would complement this pasta dish very nicely!