This Pasta with Tomato Basil Sauce is a perfect summer dinner. Pasta is tossed with tomatoes and loads of fresh basil. Topped with Parmigiano Reggiano.
Can anyone tell me something that shouts “summertime” louder and clearer than tomatoes and fresh basil? Tomatoes and basil are two ingredients that make a near perfect combination every time.
There’s the classic Caprese Salad with tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella. And Panzanella, the perfectly delectable use for day-old Italian bread, with tomatoes and basil. But today I’m bringing you my recipe for a simple, fragrant and nearly irresistible tomato basil sauce.
I make this recipe often during the summer months when the basil is growing faster than I can find uses for it. It’s quick, it’s easy, and your whole family will love it. Mine does.
Because this recipe uses so few ingredients, be sure to use the very best of each that you can afford. I like the Cento brand of San Marzano tomatoes and I always use real Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for this. It makes all the difference in the final dish.
This Pasta with Tomato Basil Sauce is a perfect summer dinner. Pasta is tossed with tomatoes and loads of fresh basil. Topped with Parmigiano Reggiano. Click To Tweet
How to Make Pasta with Tomato Basil Sauce
Start boiling the water and cook your pasta according to the package directions. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce.
Heat the olive oil in a large, deep pan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and onion. Cook until the onion is softened, approximately 4-5 minutes.
Add the tomatoes with all their juice. Crush the tomatoes using a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon.
Add the basil, a good pinch of salt, several grinds of black pepper and red pepper flakes. You can chop or chiffonade the basil if you like, but for this recipe, I like to just tear it into large pieces. Feel free to add even more fresh basil if you want to.
Cook for ten minutes or until the tomatoes are very soft.
Add the hot, cooked pasta to the pan and toss or stir to combine. If you feel that the tomato-basil sauce is a little too thick, add a spoonful or two of the pasta cooking water to thin the sauce.
To serve, top with Parmigiano-Reggiano and a little more fresh basil. Makes four very generous servings.
Enjoy!
More Pasta Recipes on Never Enough Thyme:
- Summertime Pasta Salad
- Pasta d’Arrabiata
- One Pot Pasta Dinner
- Mediterranean Shrimp with Angel Hair Pasta
- Creamy Ham and Red Bell Pepper Pasta
- Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato (BLT) Pasta
Tomato Basil Sauce Recipes from Other Bloggers:
- Tomato and Basil Bake from Taste and Tell
- Cheesy Tomato Basil Stuffed Chicken from Half Baked Harvest
- Cherry Tomato Basil Salad from Love and Lemons
- Tomato Basil Mozzarella Toasts from Tastes Better From Scratch
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Pasta with Tomato Basil Sauce
This Pasta with Tomato Basil Sauce is a perfect summer dinner. Pasta is tossed with tomatoes and loads of fresh basil. Topped with Parmigiano Reggiano.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. spaghetti or linguine
- 2 tblsp. olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 28 oz. can San Marzano tomatoes
- 10-12 large fresh basil leaves, torn into pieces
- Large pinch of salt
- 4-5 grinds of black pepper
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to the package directions. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce.
- Heat the olive oil in a large, deep pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the garlic and onion. Cook until onion is softened, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes with their juice. Crush the tomatoes using a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon.
- Add the basil, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes. Cook for ten minutes or until the tomatoes are well softened.
- Add the hot, cooked pasta to the pan and toss or stir to combine.
- Top with Parmigiano-Reggiano and a little more fresh basil.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 395Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 276mgCarbohydrates: 60gFiber: 6gSugar: 8gProtein: 14g
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Lana Stuart is the author, photographer, cook, and occasional traveler at Never Enough Thyme. A former IT professional, she enjoys time in the kitchen and the art studio.
Donald Albanese says
P.S. That was a very well presented recipe. And you do understand ingredients.
Former (& retired) owner of an Italian restaurant
Lana Stuart says
Thank you so much, Donald! Your comment just made my day :-)
Donald Albanese says
This is really not a comment on your recipe; it is a comment for your use.
It is in reference to a comment pertaining to your recipe: “Pasta with Tomato-Basil Sauce”. It was posted by smilinggreenmom on June 10, 2010. She suggests that you visit her blog. I just did – and the result was not what I expected! I did have good chuckle!
Lana Stuart says
Oh my word! Well, I have taken care of that suggestion. Delete! (p.s. – thanks for letting me know!)
Shannon C. says
Yummmm!!
fatema says
hey lana,
i had a guest for lunch this afternoon and i wanted to make pasta but i fancied the basil and tomato with garlic taste…and my my your recipe is delicious i must say i ended up eating most of the pasta leftover and my little toddler who doesnt like pasta loved it too..thumbs up i shall treasure this recipe….i taught my cook how to do it and she did it perfect :)
Thank you..
Lana says
Hello Fatema – I’m so glad you and your toddler enjoyed the recipe! I hope you’ll visit the blog again soon. Cheers!
Judimae says
Great recipe and beautiful photos. I firmly believe that the san marzano tomatoes makes the best sauce and is worth the extra money to buy a can. Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe with us.
Judi
foodlvr says
I agree that the quality of the ingredients make all the difference – real parmigiano, san marzano tomatoes, and really fresh basil. I buy San Marzano tomatoes when I see them on sale. Like no other canned product on the market. I buy parmigiano when I can afford it and a slice of a big wheel lasts a long time.
This looks amazing. You are making me so hungry.
Lana says
Nothing quite like san marzanos and real parmigiano, is there? Making myself hungry thinking about it.
Kristen says
I love a great sauce recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Magic of Spice says
What a wonderful classic…looks delicious:)
5 Star Foodie says
A wonderful summertime pasta! The tomato-basil sauce is fantastic!
Megan says
Looks like perfect Summer fare to me!!! :)
jenn (Bread + Butter) says
A simple tomato sauce is all you need sometimes to make a cook pasta meal. That reminds me that I need to stock up on some basil again.
Amy says
Yummity, yum, yum, yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum! Can I come over? My basil isn’t growing that great right now – can’t wait until it gets going.