15 Minute Tomato Basil Pasta

pin image of tomato basil pasta with text overlay on the top.

Tomato Basil Pasta is a simple, classic Italian dish with vibrant flavours prepared with fresh ripe tomatoes, fragrant basil leaves and olive oil. It is a vegan dish and gets ready in 15 minutes.

Tomato basil pasta makes a perfect meal on busy weeknights with minimal prep and cooking time. This pasta is the best choice in midweek when you are too exhausted after long working hours to cook an elaborate meal for your family.

It is much better than fast food or ready-to-eat packaged food and a healthier choice to serve your family.

This is one of the easiest and most affordable dishes for students to prepare. This dish is the best for those on a tight budget who are looking for healthy recipes.

Why we love this pasta?

It’s quick and easy to prepare with just 5 main ingredients

Ideal to make on busy or lazy days as it gets ready in 20 minutes

Perfect for novice cooks

Ingredients

pasta, vegetables, seasoning and oil placed on wooden table.

Pasta: I have used capellini (angel hair) pasta but you could use any pasta that you have on hand.
Seasoning: Salt and crushed black pepper.
Oil: Use extra virgin olive oil for lovely taste and flavour.
Vegetables and Herbs: Fresh garlic, baby plum tomatoes and fresh basil leaves.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Step 2: Once the water starts boiling, add spaghetti pasta and cook until al dente.

Step 3: Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet.

Step 4: Add the minced garlic and sauté for about half a minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.

Step 5: Add the halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet.

Step 6: Cook and mash tomatoes stirring occasionally until they soften and release their juices, about 5-7 minutes.

Step 7: Season with basil leaves, salt and pepper to taste.

Step 8: Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and then drain the pasta.

Step 9: Add the reserved pasta water to the skillet and simmer for a minute.

Step 10: Now add cooked pasta to the skillet.

Step 11: Toss until everything is well combined and heated through.

Serve immediately, garnished with additional basil leaves.

Substitutions and Variations

Nuts: Toasted pinenuts or almonds add a crunch to the pasta.

Cheese: If desired, mix in shredded cheese towards the end. But it won’t be vegan anymore.

Spicy Kick: For a spicier taste, add more black pepper or red chilli flakes.

Storage

Tomato basil pasta tastes best when freshly prepared. However, leftover pasta keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days if stored in an airtight container.

Reheat: Place the desired portion in a heatproof bowl and reheat in the microwave until piping hot

Tips and Tricks

Fresh Ingredients: Use fresh, ripe tomatoes and basil to enhance the flavour of the pasta.

Olive Oil: Use extra virgin olive oil for rich flavour and taste.

Don’t Overcook Pasta: Cook pasta just until al dente, as it cooks slightly while tossing with tomato sauce.

Pasta Water: Save a cup of pasta water before draining and use it to adjust the consistency of sauce.

Looking for more pasta recipes? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favourite dishes to serve with tomato basil pasta:

KEEP IN TOUCH

Do let me know if you try this tomato basil pasta recipe. If you like this recipe kindly consider rating it using stars in the comment section or on the recipe card to help more people find this recipe online. You can stay up to date by following me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or subscribing to my Youtube channel. Or why not subscribe to my blog and get simple recipes straight to your inbox?

Recipe Card

Tomato Basil Pasta

Tomato Basil Pasta is a simple, classic Italian dish with vibrant flavours prepared with fresh ripe tomatoes, fragrant basil leaves and olive oil. It is a vegan dish and gets ready in 20 minutes.

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 portions

Calories: 346kcal

Equipment

1 Heavy Bottom Steel Pan
1 Steel pot
1 Spoon
1 Tong

Ingredients

1 Cup = 250ml ; 1 Tablespoon = 15ml ; 1 Teaspoon = 5ml

150 gms Capellini (angel hair) pasta
2000 ml (or) 2 litres Water
2 Teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 clove Fresh Garlic peel and mince/chop finely
325 gms Baby Plum Tomatoes wash and cut each into half
12-15 Fresh Basil Leaves wash and chop finely
Salt as required
Crushed Black Pepper as required

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2000 ml (or) 2 litres Water, Salt
Once the water starts boiling, add spaghetti pasta and cook until al dente.
150 gms Capellini (angel hair) pasta
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
2 Teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Add the minced garlic and sauté for about half a minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
1 clove Fresh Garlic
Add the halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet.
325 gms Baby Plum Tomatoes
Cook and mash tomatoes stirring occasionally until they soften and release their juices, about 5-7 minutes.
Season with basil leaves, salt and pepper to taste.
12-15 Fresh Basil Leaves, Salt, Crushed Black Pepper
Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and then drain the pasta.
Add the reserved pasta water to the skillet and simmer for a minute.
Now add cooked pasta to the skillet.
Toss until everything is well combined and heated through.
Serve immediately, garnished with additional basil leaves.

Notes

Fresh Ingredients: Use fresh, ripe tomatoes and basil to enhance the flavour of the pasta. Olive Oil: Use extra virgin olive oil for rich flavour and taste. Don’t Overcook Pasta: Cook pasta just until al dente, as it cooks slightly while tossing with tomato sauce. Pasta Water: Save a cup of pasta water before draining and use it to adjust the consistency of sauce. ** Nutritional information provided here is estimated and for guidance only. Please refer my Recipe Disclaimer for more details.

Nutrition

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Welcome to Flavours Treat. I share vegetarian recipes made with wholesome, mostly fresh ingredients. Every recipe has easy-to-follow instructions with process shots (detailed step-wise pictures), a short video and lots of tips to help your cooking journey.

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