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5 from 2 votes

Pasta Pomodoro  

Pasta Pomodoro is the quintessential Italian pasta dish. It’s a classic dating back to before I was born and it’s really quite special. The ingredients are simple and it’s all about execution.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Gaby Dalkin

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion finely diced
  • 6 garlic cloves minced
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 28- ounce can San Marzano tomatoes puréed in a food processor
  • Kosher salt
  • Fresh basil
  • 1 box Barilla bucatini or spaghetti
  • 2 tablespoons cubed unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until soft, about 12 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 2-4 minutes. Add crushed red pepper flakes; cook for 1 minute more. Increase heat to medium, add puréed tomatoes and season lightly with kosher salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens slightly and the flavors meld, about 20 minutes. Remove pan from heat, stir in basil, and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a large pot. Season with salt; add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until about 2 minutes before tender. Drain pasta, reserving ½ cup pasta cooking water.
  • Discard basil and heat skillet over high heat. Stir in reserved pasta water to loosen sauce; bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook, stirring, until sauce coats pasta and pasta is al dente, about 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat; add butter and cheese; toss until cheese melts. Transfer to warm bowls; serve with more cheese and more basil, if desired.

Notes

Make sure and find San Marzano tomatoes at the store. These will give you the most authentic flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 445kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 272mg | Potassium: 473mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 360IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 3mg