Herb-Infused Italian Tomato and Basil Pasta

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 developed and reviewed.

Classic Italian pasta tossed with fresh tomatoes, fragrant basil, and garlic in a light olive oil dressing. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs spaghetti, ripe plum tomatoes diced, fresh basil leaves chopped 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 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 to a boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: Meanwhile, heat 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Step 3: Add 3 cups diced ripe plum tomatoes, 1 tsp sea salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes until tomatoes soften and release juices.
  4. Step 4: Toss the drained spaghetti into the skillet with the tomato sauce. Add 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Stir well to combine and let the sauce thicken slightly for 2 minutes.
  5. Step 5: Remove from heat and sprinkle 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese on top. Toss again briefly and serve immediately.

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