Citrus-Bitter Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
Pasta tossed with cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs, and a light Aperol-infused sauce for a bright, balanced dinner. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 27 minutes, pairs pasta, olive oil, cherry tomatoes for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
- 2 tbsp Aperol
- 1/4 cup fresh basil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
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Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 8 oz pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 3: Add 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes and 2 tbsp Aperol to the skillet, then cook for 5 minutes until tomatoes soften and release their juices. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, 1/2 tsp sea salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper, then add the drained pasta and toss to coat. Add 2 tbsp reserved pasta water if the sauce seems too thick.
