General Tomato and Basil Pasta with Garlic Oil

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A light Italian pasta tossed in fragrant garlic oil with fresh tomatoes and basil for a bright, simple dinner. This Italian pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 22 minutes, pairs spaghetti, extra virgin olive oil, and garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner. 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 "Build a week of meals around this recipe" 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 12 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 420 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water (1 tbsp salt) to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 5 thinly sliced garlic cloves and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, sautéing for 1-2 minutes until garlic is golden and fragrant but not burnt.
  3. Step 3: Add 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until they soften and release juices.
  4. Step 4: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet along with 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, and 1/2 cup torn fresh basil leaves. Toss vigorously for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the pasta.
  5. Step 5: Season with 1 tsp black pepper and adjust salt if needed. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan if desired.

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