Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta

The warmer weather means that Jersey tomatoes and basil are both back in season! It is my absolute favorite time to go to my farmer’s market because the smell of fresh basil is everywhere. The tomatoes look like shiny jewels. In summer my Nana Lulu made a simple tomato basil sauce often that she tossed with pasta. She loved the seasonal ingredients more than I can even describe! So this simple and fresh tomato basil pasta is inspired by her.

While my nana painstakingly minced every ingredient for the fresh tomato basil pasta, I took the easy way out. I pureed my tomatoes, basil, and aromatics together in my beloved food processor. It made prep a complete cinch!
That gorgeous puree went into my pot with olive oil, tomato paste, red wine and seasoning. The tomato paste and wine added a huge depth of flavor. It smelled incredible as soon as I turned the stove on! I let the sauce for the fresh tomato basil pasta simmer for 10 minutes to develop flavor.
I cooked my pasta while the sauce cooked. Then I just made the final touches and brought it all together! A little of the pasta cooking water loosened everything up, while lots of parmesan cheese made the sauce more thick and substantial.

Oh my goodness, when I took my first bite it was a pure taste of summer. The tomato and basil were just magical together. Best of all it was a simple dish that I put on the table in 30 minutes. I think my Nana Lulu would have been really proud of this recipe that she inspired. It made me feel like I was in her house on a summer Sunday having family dinner! Hope you all enjoy this recipe as much as I did. xoxo

Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta
Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta
Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta
Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta

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5 from 1 vote
Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta
Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

In the warm weather, I love to make really light pasta dishes. This fresh tomato basil pasta fit the bill perfectly with loads of flavor! 

Course: Main Course
Keyword: Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta, Pasta
Servings: 4
Calories: 271 kcal
Author: Jeanie and Lulu's Kitchen
Ingredients
  • 2 pints cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup fresh basil packed, plus additional for garnish
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 whole onion quartered
  • 1 dash olive oil
  • 1/4 cup red wine
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 pinch salt plus additional for the pasta water
  • 1 pinch freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese plus additional for topping
  • 1 pound fusilli pasta
Instructions
  1. First, get a large pot of water on the stove to boil for the pasta. Salt it generously once it is boiling. While it comes to a boil, combine the cherry tomatoes, basil, garlic and onion in the bowl of a food processor. Puree them all together until it is a thick sauce. Set it aside. Get a large skillet with deep sides on the stove and heat the olive oil in it over medium high heat. Add the wine and tomato paste, letting them cook for a minute. Pour the puree into the skillet and let the sauce come to a boil. Reduce it to a simmer and let it cook for 10 minutes.
  2. The water should be boiling by this point, so cook the pasta according to the directions until tender. It should take 8-10 minutes. Scoop out a 1/4 cup of the cooking water before you drain it and add it, along with the parmesan cheese, to the sauce. Stir the sauce well so that the cheese thickens and emulsifies the sauce. Drain the pasta and stir it into the sauce as well. Scoop the pasta into pretty bowls and top with it extra parmesan and basil. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 271 Calories from Fat 33
% Daily Value*
Fat 3.7g6%
Saturated Fat 2.2g14%
Cholesterol 12mg4%
Sodium 205mg9%
Potassium 1098mg31%
Carbohydrates 44.5g15%
Fiber 7.1g30%
Sugar 13.6g15%
Protein 12.4g25%
Calcium 160mg16%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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10 thoughts on “Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta”

  1. I love anything tomato based. We do a bunch of canning of different tomatoes so this will be easy to put together and make. Perfect comfort meal.

  2. Oh this looks super tasty! And I love the hack about using a food processor instead of mincing everything by hand!

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