How to Make a Delicious Tomato Basil Pasta: A Quick and Easy Recipe

Tomato basil pasta is a classic Italian dish that has been delighting food enthusiasts for generations. It's a simple yet incredibly satisfying meal, making it perfect for busy weeknights or casual family dinners. With its vibrant flavors and easy preparation, this dish can be enjoyed by people of all culinary skill levels.

The cooking time for tomato basil pasta is approximately 25 minutes, including the time to boil water for the pasta and cook the sauce. This recipe serves four people generously. You will need a few basic ingredients that you may already have at home:

• 2 cups of fresh or canned tomatoes
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup of fresh basil leaves
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil
• Sea salt and black pepper to taste
• 8 ounces of pasta (preferably spaghetti)

To start, begin by boiling water for the pasta. Once it reaches a rolling boil, add about 1/2 teaspoon of salt per liter of water to enhance the flavor. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente, which means it has a slight resistance when you bite into it rather than being completely soft.

While your pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce. Heat up the olive oil in a medium-sized pan over medium heat. Sauté the chopped onion and garlic cloves until they become translucent and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. This step is crucial as it develops the flavors of the dish.

Add the canned or fresh tomatoes to the pan along with half of the basil leaves. Stir gently to combine everything together. Let this mixture simmer for around 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to blend and intensify. During this time, taste the sauce occasionally and adjust seasoning as needed – adding a pinch more salt or a dash more pepper.

After 10 minutes of cooking, drain your pasta thoroughly but reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water. Drain well, then return the cooked pasta to the pot. Pour the warm tomato basil sauce over the pasta and mix everything together until the pasta is evenly coated with the rich sauce.

Cooked in this way, the pasta absorbs some of the flavor from the sauce, making every bite extra delicious. If necessary, add a little bit of reserved pasta water to help the sauce cling better to your pasta strands without becoming too watery.

Before serving, sprinkle the remaining fresh basil leaves on top as a garnish and serve hot with grated Parmesan cheese if desired. This optional topping adds a nice nutty flavor that complements the bright tomato and herb flavors beautifully.

This simple yet flavorful dish is not only comforting but also nutritious due to its use of whole grains from the pasta and fresh vegetables in the sauce. To make it more substantial, consider adding some grilled chicken or shrimp on top for extra protein content.

Tomato basil pasta makes a wonderful dinner option because it requires minimal effort yet delivers big flavor. Whether you're entertaining friends or just looking to treat yourself at home, this dish is sure to impress both your taste buds and the people around you!

To vary this recipe slightly, you could substitute different types of cheese like mozzarella or pecorino for Parmesan; try using red pepper flakes if you prefer a bit more heat. You might also experiment with adding mushrooms or sun-dried tomatoes for additional depth.

For those who want to take it up another notch in complexity but still keep things manageable, consider making your own fresh tomato sauce from scratch instead of purchasing canned ones. There's no denying that homemade always tastes better and often costs less too!

In conclusion, mastering a dish like tomato basil pasta opens doors towards creating countless other variations. It’s a versatile base recipe that allows you to explore various flavors while still maintaining simplicity and delicious results.