Description
Lemony Cherry Tomato Pasta is a delightful dish that shines with a burst of flavors from fresh cherry tomatoes and zesty lemon. Perfect for a quick dinner or a healthy meal. This easy recipe combines pasta with aromatic garlic and just the right amount of spice, making it ideal for anyone seeking comfort in simple, homemade dishes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 large cloves garlic, pressed or finely minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 pound (450g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- zest of 1 lemon
- optional garnishes: chopped fresh basil, freshly-grated parmesan, extra black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil for the pasta.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add garlic, tomato paste, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add cherry tomatoes, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Simultaneously, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until just shy of al dente. Cook the tomatoes for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reserve about 3/4 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Combine drained pasta with the sauce in the skillet, adding reserved pasta water as needed for desired sauce consistency.
- Remove from heat, mix in lemon zest and juice, and taste for seasoning. Serve warm, garnished with basil, parmesan, and extra black pepper.
Notes
Fresh basil and parmesan can enhance the flavor of the dish.
Adjust crushed red pepper flakes based on your spice preference.
Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 0mg