Description
This rich and velvety Tomato Butter Pasta recipe combines tender spaghetti with a luscious tomato and butter sauce, enhanced by garlic, olive oil, and fresh basil. Quick to prepare and packed with fresh flavors, it’s the perfect comforting meal for any night.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz (340g) spaghetti or pasta of choice
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pint (about 2 cups) cherry tomatoes, halved
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Toppings
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente, following package instructions. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water for later use.
- Heat Oil and Butter: While the pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat to prepare the sauce base.
- Sauté Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned, infusing the oil and butter with flavor.
- Cook Tomatoes: Add the halved cherry tomatoes, salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes to the skillet. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes soften and burst, releasing their juices to create a natural sauce.
- Crush Tomatoes: Use a spoon to gently crush some of the tomatoes in the skillet to develop a chunky texture and richer sauce consistency.
- Add Remaining Butter and Pasta: Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter into the tomato mixture. Then add the drained pasta to the skillet, tossing everything together to coat the pasta thoroughly. Add some of the reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Garnish and Serve: Serve the pasta immediately, topped with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves for an added burst of flavor and freshness.
Notes
- Save some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency — it helps the sauce cling better to the pasta.
- You can substitute cherry tomatoes with grape tomatoes or diced Roma tomatoes if unavailable.
- For a vegan version, omit the butter and Parmesan cheese or replace with vegan alternatives.
- Red pepper flakes add a mild heat but can be omitted to keep the dish mild.
- Fresh basil is recommended for best flavor, but dried basil can be used in a pinch.
