Description
A luscious and comforting dish featuring al dente spaghetti tossed in a creamy, garlicky fresh tomato sauce enriched with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Ready in just 30 minutes, this pasta recipe brings garden-fresh flavors into a rich, velvety sauce perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a cozy meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 8 oz (225 g) spaghetti or pasta of your choice
- Salt, for pasta water
For the Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb (450 g) fresh tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- 1/4 cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup (10 g) fresh basil leaves, chopped
- Additional grated Parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Prepare the sauce: In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil. Once heated, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Add tomatoes: Add the chopped fresh tomatoes to the skillet with the garlic. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the tomatoes start to break down and form a sauce. Stir occasionally.
- Make it creamy: Reduce the heat to low and slowly stir in the heavy cream. Allow the mixture to simmer for another 2 minutes.
- Incorporate cheese: Add the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until it melts and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat, adding a bit of reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick. Stir in the chopped fresh basil leaves.
- Serve: Divide the creamy fresh tomato garlic pasta among serving plates. Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency as needed.
- Use ripe fresh tomatoes for the best flavor and creaminess.
- Be careful not to burn the garlic; sauté until fragrant.
- This dish is best served immediately for optimal creaminess.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter option, but sauce will be less rich.
- Fresh basil can be substituted with dried basil but add it towards the end to preserve flavor.
- Optional garnish of extra Parmesan adds an extra layer of savory flavor.
