Description
Cherry Tomato Pasta is a delightful blend of fresh cherry tomatoes, garlic, and parmesan, creating a quick and tasty meal perfect for busy nights or cozy weekends. It’s easy to prepare and bursting with flavor, making it ideal for anyone seeking a homemade touch to their dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 24 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
- 12 oz short pasta, uncooked (orecchiette, shells, rotini, etc.)
- 2 tsp italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/3 c grated parmesan
- 2–3 tbsp heavy cream
- 2–3 tbsp tomato paste
- pinch of sugar, optional
- 1/2 – 1 c reserved starchy pasta water
- 1/4 c fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, remembering to reserve some pasta water.
- Heat a large pan over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Once hot, add minced garlic and stir for about 1 minute.
- Add halved cherry tomatoes to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to burst. Press them down to smash and continue to simmer until broken down. Mix in salt, pepper, italian seasoning, and balsamic vinegar.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in heavy cream and grated parmesan until the cheese is melted. Mix in tomato paste and add sugar if desired.
- Gradually add reserved starchy pasta water to achieve your desired sauce consistency, stirring as needed.
- Toss the cooked pasta into the sauce and remove from heat. Fold in chopped fresh basil before serving, garnished with extra basil and grated parmesan.
Notes
For a vegan option, you can omit the heavy cream and parmesan or use dairy-free alternatives.
Feel free to add vegetables like spinach or zucchini for extra nutrition.
This dish is perfect for meal prepping and tastes even better the next day!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 20mg