Pomodoro Pasta
This pasta al pomodoro is the quintessential classic Italian dish. Ripe fresh tomatoes, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil create a delicate tomato sauce that clings perfectly to pasta and is light, flavorful, and pure summer comfort.
Servings: 4
Calories: 682kcal
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ripe tomatoes cored and quartered
- 1 pound spaghetti or any other pasta shape
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- Kosher salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 cup Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 1 handful fresh basil leaves torn
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Place the quartered tomatoes in a food processor and pulse until mostly smooth with a few small pieces remaining.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to let it brown.
- Pour in the tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and let it simmer for about 10 minutes or until some of the liquid has evaporated and the raw tomato mellows.
- While the sauce cooks, boil the spaghetti until just shy of al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain.
- Add the spaghetti to the sauce, tossing well to coat. Add splashes of the reserved pasta water as needed to help the sauce cling.
- Remove from the heat, stir in the basil, and add the cheese, tossing until the pasta is glossy and well-coated.
- Serve right away with extra cheese, basil and a drizzle of olive oil on top.
Notes
- Use the best ripe tomatoes you can find for a fresh pasta sauce with great flavor.
- Always salt the large pot of water generously before the pasta cooks.
- Stir the sauce with a wooden spoon to prevent burning.
- Reserve more pasta cooking water than you think you’ll need. It helps create a rich, flavorful sauce.
- Transfer pasta directly to the skillet to finish cooking in the sauce rather than draining completely.
Nutrition
Calories: 682kcal | Carbohydrates: 95g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 419mg | Potassium: 824mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 2111IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 348mg | Iron: 2mg
