Quick and Authentic Pasta Pomodoro Sauce
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
10 mins
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Total Time
20 mins
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Servings
4
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Calories
542 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Italian
Quick and Authentic Pasta Pomodoro Sauce
Description
Quick and Authentic Pasta Pomodoro Sauce features a few fresh ingredients carefully cooked to yield a luscious sauce that complements pasta shapes like spaghetti or penne. Fresh medium-sized tomatoes are quartered and added to garlic infused olive oil, where they cook down to a creamy texture while retaining fresh tomato flavor. The sauce is finished with torn fresh basil leaves, which impart a mild, aromatic quality.
The recipe uses kosher salt both for seasoning the boiling pasta water and the sauce, balancing flavor without overpowering. Cooking the pasta and sauce simultaneously helps integrate starchy pasta water into the sauce, enhancing its texture and mouthfeel. This method produces a rustic, yet refined sauce with tenderness from fresh tomatoes and aromatic garlic and basil components.
This sauce is served hot tossed with the cooked pasta and is a straightforward approach for a homemade Italian staple. It pairs well with a simple salad or light protein for a well-rounded meal experience. The highlight is its freshness and the gradual cooking that transforms ingredients into a comforting and balanced dish.
Handling the garlic carefully to avoid burning and reserving pasta water to adjust sauce consistency are practical tips emphasized in the preparation. These small steps help achieve the ideal sauce texture and flavor without splatters or overcooking.
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti DeLallo dried pasta, or penne
- 1 pound tomatoes medium size fresh, such as campari or cocktail
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided, DeLallo brand
- 6 large garlic of the same size, divided, fresh cloves
- 12-15 basil leaves
- 1 ½ tablespoons kosher salt
Instructions
- Begin cooking the pasta noodles in boiling water seasoned with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt for approximately 5 minutes. *NOTE: Reserve 2 cups of the pasta water to add to the sauce later. While the pasta is cooking, start the sauce.
- For the sauce, cut the tomatoes in half, then quarter the halves, and set aside. Heat 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, and add three of the garlic cloves to the oil. Tilt the pan so the garlic is immersed in the oil to flavor it as the garlic cooks. Cook until the garlic becomes fragrant and begins to color, then to avoid splatters, carefully add the tomatoes along with their juice to the flavored oil. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring and breaking apart the tomatoes as they cook. Pull out the garlic cloves and discard them. Continue cooking the sauce for 6-8 more minutes where it will thicken and become creamy as it cooks. Tear the fresh basil leaves into pieces and add to the sauce when cooking is nearly complete.
- As the pasta is cooking, heat the remaining olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat with the remaining garlic. Cook until lightly browned, remove the garlic and discard. Carefully ladle 1 to ½ cups of the pasta water ¼ cup at a time into the garlic-infused oil. Transfer the noodles to the pan and continue cooking the pasta for 1-2 more minutes or until the water and oil are absorbed. Divide the noodles among four plates, and top with the sauce. Garnish with more fresh basil and finish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil before serving. Or, toss the noodles with the sauce and serve family-style
Notes
- Reserve 2 cups of pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
- Be cautious when adding tomatoes to hot garlic oil to prevent splatters and burns.
- Remove garlic cloves after flavoring the oil to avoid bitterness.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 542 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 4ounces | |
| Calories | 542kcal | 27% |
| Carbohydrates | 91g | 30% |
| Protein | 16g | 32% |
| Fat | 12g | 18% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Sodium | 2630mg | 110% |
| Potassium | 542mg | 12% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 1010IU | 20% |
| Vitamin C | 17.3mg | 19% |
| Calcium | 44mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1.9mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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