Marry Thompson This Cherry Tomato Pasta is an easy and fresh recipe, which is made with burst cherry tomatoes and creamy ricotta. It’s the perfect 30-minute meal, ready in about 35 minutes.
Jump to RecipeCherry Tomato Pasta Recipe Ingredients
- 1 lb. spaghetti
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, plus more for serving
- 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 1/2 lb. cherry tomatoes (about 6 cups)
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, plus more for the pasta water
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, cut into a chiffonade, plus more for serving
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan (about 2 ounces), plus more for serving
- 1/2 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese, at room temperature
How To Make Cherry Tomato Pasta
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Just before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water.
- Sauté the Aromatics: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the crushed garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Build the Sauce Base: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for about 2 minutes, until it has thickened and slightly darkened in color.
- Burst the Tomatoes: Add the cherry tomatoes, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until the tomatoes start to turn golden and begin to burst. Stir in the chicken broth and let the sauce simmer for another 5 to 7 minutes, until the tomatoes have fully burst and become saucy.
- Combine and Finish: Add the drained pasta, fresh basil, parmesan, and ½ cup of the reserved pasta water to the skillet. Toss everything to combine, adding more pasta water a tablespoon at a time if needed to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Serve: Serve the pasta immediately, with generous dollops of ricotta cheese on top and a sprinkle of more fresh basil and parmesan.
Recipe Tips
- How to get the most flavor from the tomatoes? The key is to let them cook in the hot pan until their skins start to blister and they “burst.” This releases all their sweet juices and creates a rustic, flavorful sauce.
- Why do I have to reserve the pasta water? This is the secret to a perfect, restaurant-quality sauce! The starchy pasta water is an emulsifier that helps the oil-based sauce and the cheese cling to the pasta, creating a smooth, glossy coating rather than a watery one.
- Can I use a different pasta shape? Absolutely. This sauce is fantastic with other long pasta shapes like linguine or bucatini, or with short shapes that can trap the sauce, like penne, rigatoni, or orecchiette.
- How do I make the sauce extra creamy? For an even creamier result, you can stir a few tablespoons of the ricotta directly into the finished pasta and sauce, in addition to dolloping it on top.
What To Serve With Cherry Tomato Pasta
This is a wonderful and satisfying main course on its own. For a more complete meal, it pairs perfectly with:
- Warm, crusty garlic bread for sopping up the sauce
- A simple Caesar salad or a crisp green salad with Italian vinaigrette
- A side of roasted or steamed broccoli or asparagus
How To Store Cherry Tomato Pasta
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Reheat gently in a skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of water or chicken broth to loosen the sauce. Note that the ricotta will melt into the pasta upon reheating.
Cherry Tomato Pasta Nutrition Facts
- Serving: 1/6th of recipe
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 75g
- Protein: 18g
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Sodium: 750mg
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Yes, easily. To make this a vegetarian dish, simply substitute the chicken broth with an equal amount of vegetable broth or even just use a little extra of the reserved pasta water.
As written, it has a very mild warmth from the red pepper flakes. You can easily adjust the spice level by reducing the amount for a non-spicy version, or by adding a more generous pinch for an extra kick.
For the best flavor and texture, fresh cherry or grape tomatoes are highly recommended. Their skins burst perfectly to create the rustic sauce. Canned tomatoes will result in a much different, more uniform sauce.
Try More Recipes:
- Chocolate-Dipped Cherry Macaroons Recipe
- Individual Cherry Almond Crisps Recipe
- Cherry Dump Cake Recipe
Cherry Tomato Pasta Recipe
Course: DinnerCuisine: Italian-AmericanDifficulty: Easy6
servings10
minutes20
minutes520
kcalA quick and easy pasta dish featuring a vibrant, rustic sauce made from sweet cherry tomatoes that burst in the pan, finished with fresh basil and dollops of creamy ricotta cheese.
Ingredients
1 lb. spaghetti
1/4 cup olive oil
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 1/2 lb. cherry tomatoes
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 cup fresh basil
1/2 cup grated parmesan
1/2 cup whole-milk ricotta
Directions
- Cook the spaghetti according to package directions in salted water. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining.
- In a large skillet, sauté the garlic and red pepper flakes in olive oil until fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the cherry tomatoes and cook until they begin to burst, about 3-5 minutes.
- Stir in the broth and simmer for another 5-7 minutes until the tomatoes have become saucy.
- Add the cooked pasta, basil, parmesan, and ½ cup of the reserved pasta water to the skillet. Toss to combine, adding more pasta water as needed.
- Serve immediately in bowls with dollops of ricotta and extra basil and parmesan on top.
Notes
- The most important tip for this recipe is to not forget to reserve the starchy pasta water; it’s the secret to a perfectly silky sauce.
- For the best flavor, use ripe, in-season cherry or grape tomatoes.
- Don’t be shy with the fresh basil and parmesan at the end; they add a huge amount of fresh, vibrant flavor.
- Using whole-milk ricotta will provide the creamiest, most delicious result.