Half-and-Half Tomato and Basil Pasta with Garlic

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 bright and fresh pasta dish featuring half cherry tomatoes sautéed with garlic and fresh basil, tossed with spaghetti for a quick and flavorful meal. This Italian pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 20 minutes, pairs spaghetti, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil leaves for a weeknight-friendly dinner. Each serving lands at about 400 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: 5 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 400 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 8 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain the pasta.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Step 3: Add 1 1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes soften and release their juices.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Add the drained pasta and 1/4 cup reserved pasta water to the skillet, tossing everything together for 1-2 minutes until the sauce lightly coats the spaghetti.
  5. Step 5: Serve immediately, topping with 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

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