Rustic 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.

Simple yet flavorful Italian pasta tossed in a fresh tomato and basil sauce reminiscent of classic dishes from Franchesco’s Ristorante. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs spaghetti pasta, extra virgin olive oil, garlic cloves 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: 20 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 rolling boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Step 3: Add 4 cups chopped ripe plum tomatoes, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, and 1/2 tsp sugar. Simmer gently for 8-10 minutes until tomatoes break down and sauce thickens.
  4. Step 4: Stir in the torn 1 cup fresh basil leaves and add the drained pasta to the skillet along with 1/4 cup reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously for 1 minute until the sauce coats every strand.
  5. Step 5: Remove from heat and sprinkle with 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, tossing lightly before serving.

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