Simple Tomato Basil Pasta

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Servings: 4 | Prep: 10 min | Cook: 20 min | Total: 30 min

Tags: Italian, quick, vegetarian

Ingredients

• 400.0 g spaghetti
• 300.0 g cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 3.0 unit garlic cloves (finely chopped)
• 20.0 g fresh basil leaves (roughly torn)
• 3.0 tbsp olive oil
• 1.0 tsp salt (or to taste)
• 1.0 tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
• 50.0 g Parmesan cheese (grated)

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside, reserving 100 ml of pasta water.
2. While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chopped garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
3. Add the halved cherry tomatoes to the pan and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes start to soften and release their juices.
4. Season the tomatoes with salt and black pepper. Add the reserved pasta water and let it simmer for another 2 minutes until slightly reduced.
5. Add the cooked spaghetti to the pan and toss to coat in the tomato mixture. Cook for 1-2 minutes, ensuring the pasta is well combined with the sauce.
6. Remove the pan from heat and add fresh basil leaves, tossing gently to distribute evenly.
7. Serve the pasta hot, topped with grated Parmesan cheese and additional basil leaves if desired.