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Creamy Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta Recipe Easy Homemade with Fresh Basil and Roasted Garlic

creamy burst cherry tomato pasta - featured image
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A quick and easy pasta dish featuring bursting cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and mellow roasted garlic in a rich, velvety cream sauce. Perfect for casual dinners and impressing guests without stress.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (300g) cherry tomatoes, preferably ripe and firm
  • A handful of fresh basil leaves, torn
  • 1 whole garlic bulb, for roasting
  • 8 oz (225g) pasta (penne or fusilli recommended)
  • 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream (can substitute with coconut cream for dairy-free)
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Zest of ½ lemon

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Slice the top off the garlic bulb to expose the cloves, drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil, and wrap loosely in foil. Roast for 35-40 minutes until cloves are soft and golden.
  2. While garlic roasts, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions (8-10 minutes) until al dente.
  3. Drain pasta, reserving about ½ cup (120ml) of pasta water. Set aside.
  4. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add cherry tomatoes, salt, and red pepper flakes if using. Cook gently for 5-7 minutes until tomatoes soften and start to burst, stirring occasionally.
  5. Squeeze roasted garlic cloves out of the bulb and mash with a fork. Add to skillet and stir to combine.
  6. Pour in heavy cream and stir gently. Simmer on low heat for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Add reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick.
  7. Add cooked pasta to skillet and toss to coat with sauce. Stir in lemon zest and half of the torn basil leaves.
  8. Remove from heat and stir in grated Parmesan cheese if using. Season with freshly ground black pepper and adjust salt to taste.
  9. Serve immediately, garnished with remaining fresh basil leaves.

Notes

Roast garlic slowly at moderate heat to avoid bitterness. Stir tomatoes gently to keep them bursting rather than mushy. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Add basil at the end to preserve freshness. For dairy-free, substitute cream with coconut or cashew cream and Parmesan with nutritional yeast.

Nutrition

Keywords: cherry tomato pasta, creamy pasta, roasted garlic pasta, fresh basil pasta, easy pasta recipe, quick dinner, vegetarian pasta

Find it online: https://sweetstirring.com/creamy-burst-cherry-tomato-pasta-recipe-easy-homemade-with-fresh-basil-and-roasted-garlic/