Description
This classic Pasta Pomodoro recipe features al dente spaghetti tossed in a fresh tomato sauce made with ripe tomatoes, garlic, onions, and fragrant basil. Finished with grated Parmesan, it is a simple, flavorful Italian dish perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 1 lb. spaghetti
- Kosher salt (for boiling water)
For the Sauce
- 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 medium tomatoes, finely chopped (about 4 cups)
- Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- 2 tbsp. thinly sliced fresh basil, plus more for serving
For Serving
- Finely grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the spaghetti, stirring occasionally, until al dente as per package directions, usually about 8 to 10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the spaghetti.
- Make the sauce base: In another large pot over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute more.
- Cook the tomatoes: Add the finely chopped tomatoes to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the juices are released and the mixture starts to thicken, about 5 minutes. Season with red pepper flakes, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Reduce the heat to low and bring to a gentle simmer. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the sauce slightly reduces and thickens, about 15 minutes. Stir in the sliced fresh basil leaves.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the drained spaghetti and 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water to the sauce. Toss to combine well. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, adding additional pasta water as needed, until the sauce is glossy and coats the pasta evenly.
- Serve: Plate the pasta and top with a generous amount of finely grated Parmesan cheese and extra fresh basil leaves for garnish. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- You can substitute spaghetti with any long pasta like linguine or fettuccine.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level.
- To enhance the tomato flavor, use ripe, in-season tomatoes or high-quality canned tomatoes if fresh are unavailable.
- Reserve some pasta water to help the sauce stick to the pasta and to adjust sauce consistency.
- For a vegan option, omit the Parmesan cheese or substitute with a vegan cheese alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Pasta Pomodoro, Italian pasta recipe, fresh tomato sauce, easy pasta dish, vegetarian pasta, classic Italian dinner
