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Tomato Smash Pasta

Cherry tomatoes smashed down into a rustic sauce, tossed with pasta, garlic, and parmesan — ready in 20 minutes.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: French, Italian
Calories: 380

Ingredients
  

3 cups cherry tomatoes
3 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
12 oz pasta, spaghetti or linguine
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fresh basil, torn
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
salt and pepper, to taste
2 tbsp butter

Equipment

  • 1 Large pot
  • 1 Large skillet

Method
 

Step 1: Cook the pasta, reserving 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
    Step 2: Cook the cherry tomatoes in olive oil, smashing them as they soften, for 8 to 10 minutes.
      Step 3: Add garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking 1 minute more.
        Step 4: Stir in butter and a splash of pasta water to bring the sauce together.
          Tip: Save extra pasta water in case you need to loosen the sauce further.
            Step 5: Toss in the pasta, adding more pasta water as needed for a silky consistency.
              Step 6: Stir in parmesan and basil, season with salt and pepper, and serve.

                Notes

                Save extra pasta water in case you need to loosen the sauce further before serving