Pasta al Pomodoro
Ingredients: spaghetti, fresh cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, extra virgin olive oil · 25 min cook time · 450kcal · ~₩12,000
Ingredients
300g spaghetti, 400g fresh cherry tomatoes, 1bunch fresh basil, 2cloves garlic, 4Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1pinch salt, 1pinch pepper, 1Tbsp sea salt
Instructions
1. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half to help release their juice.
2. Add about 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to a pan.
3. Crush two cloves of garlic and add them to the oil. Cook for no more than 30 seconds to avoid burning.
4. Add the halved cherry tomatoes to the pan. Season with a generous amount of salt and pepper.
5. Cook the tomatoes on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until juice starts to come out.
6. Add a whole stalk of fresh basil to the sauce to infuse flavors. Break the stalk to release more aroma.
7. After a few minutes, as the tomatoes soften, press on them with a spoon or spatula to help release more juice and create a creamier sauce.
8. After about 10 minutes of cooking, remove the basil stalk from the sauce.
9. Gently and quickly blend the sauce using an immersion blender for a few seconds to make it creamier while still leaving some tomato chunks. Alternatively, crush with your hands if it's not too hot.
10. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add one tablespoon of sea salt.
11. Add the spaghetti to the boiling water. Twist and push down for the first 30 seconds until it softens and submerges. Cook according to package instructions (e.g., 13 minutes).
12. While the pasta cooks, return the sauce to a pot on very low heat.
13. Tear fresh basil leaves with your hands and add them to the sauce. Keep some basil for decoration.
14. Before draining the pasta, reserve a mug of pasta water.
15. Transfer the cooked spaghetti directly from the pot into the sauce using tongs. Do not drain with a colander.
16. Mix the pasta thoroughly with the sauce, ensuring every strand is coated.
17. Add a little reserved pasta water to the sauce and pasta mixture, then toss to emulsify and create a creamier consistency.
18. Drizzle with raw extra virgin olive oil just before serving for added flavor.
Source: Watch the original video