Need a dinner idea that’s quicker than calling for takeout? This super simply cherry tomato pasta, or pasta sciue sciue, is it. Made with the simplest of store cupboard ingredients, you can have this meal on the table in just 12 minutes!
I’ll let you into a secret. I almost didn’t post this ridiculously simple cherry tomato pasta recipe because Mr. Scrummy declared it boring.
Oh no!
But here’s the thing. This won’t win any contests for complexity of flavour. It isn’t oozy, gooey, creamy, cheesy, or meaty.
But the flavours in this pasta aren’t SUPPOSED to be complex.
I made a couple of small changes to the traditional recipe (how dare I?!), but essentially this is a very basic Italian pasta dish called pasta sciue sciue – apparently pronounced ‘shoo-ee shoo-ee’.
It means ‘pasta hurry hurry’. Don’t you just love that?
Which makes it perfect for this blog where we LOVE ridiculously easy food that hardly even needs a recipe.
Let the ingredients shine!
It’s a few basic, really really good quality ingredients that are supposed to shine here:
- olive oil
- garlic
- dried oregano
- chilli flakes
- cherry tomatoes (lots of them!)
- balsamic vinegar
- fresh basil
Deliciously simple, fresh ingredients!
So when you buy your ingredients for this simple cherry tomato pasta, choose carefully:
Choose the reddist, juiciest tomatoes.
Get excellent quality olive oil.
Buy the freshest basil you can find.
Don’t even think about using that wizened old clove of garlic lurking in the bottom of your fridge. You know the one. We all have it.
One of the things I love most about this cherry tomato pasta is that you put the pasta on to boil, and you then have just enough time to get your ingredients together and make your ‘sauce’ in a few ridiculously easy steps.
- Add a huge splash of olive oil and heat your pan gently.
- Add the next 3 ingredients until the garlic begins to sizzle.
- Turn up the heat to high, add your cherry tomatoes and put the lid on the pan. Shake a few times as the tomatoes sizzle, burst, and get lovely and juicy, then add a dash of balsamic vinegar.
- Stir in the fresh basil and cooked pasta, then splosh in a bit of the pasta cooking water to bring the dish together.
- Ladle into bowls, then top with a generous amount of parmesan cheese and another drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
This pasta sciue sciue is the perfect lazy midweek meal.
It’s pretty important to only heat your olive oil gently when you first add it to the pan. I probably shouldn’t admit this but you may spot that I did actually burn my garlic a bit in the video below.
It was still delicious, but garlic has a bit of a bitter aftertaste if you burn it. Better to try not to!
Also, it may seem like your pasta doesn’t have much of a sauce, but wait until you cut into those juicy, blistered tomatoes.
As you do they’ll splosh into your pasta in a little pool, mixing with the oil, garlic, herbs, chilli, vinegar and parmesan to make the most heavenly and yet basic of sauces.
See? Juicy, blistered tomatoes combine with the olive oil & balsamic to make a delicious simple sauce!
Give it a try and you’ll see how simple can still equal delicious!
What type of pasta shall I use for this cherry tomato pasta?
I really like to use Casareccia pasta for this pasta sciue sciue (which I recently discovered!), but I also think spaghetti, penne, pasta shells or any medium sized pasta shapes would work well. Use your favourite, or whatever you happen to have in the cupboard!
Don’t forget to watch the video how-to!
If like me you’re a very visual person, scroll down to the video in the recipe card to watch exactly how I make this cherry tomato pasta.
As you make the dish so quickly it might help to watch the how-to before you begin cooking.
And please leave me a review!
If you do make this cherry tomato pasta, I’d really appreciate it if you’d pop back and leave your comment and rating below. Thank you so much!
Equipment/Products I like to use to make this (affiliate links):
This deep frying pan with a lid would be great for this pasta dish. You definitely need a lid, and even better if you can see the tomatoes through it!
And just to show you what it looks like… I like to use Casareccia pasta for this cherry tomato pasta.
12-minute cherry tomato pasta (pasta sciue sciue)
Casarrecia pasta with the most basic of cherry tomato pasta sauces. It might be basic, with just 7 pantry ingredients, but this 'pasta sciue sciue' is extremely delicious if you use the best quality ingredients you can find. Perfect for summer, or any evening you’re short on time!
Ingredients
- 6 ounces pasta (I like Casareccia, but penne, conchiglie or even spaghetti also work well)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil plus extra for drizzling
- 2 medium cloves garlic sliced or crushed
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 pinch chilli flakes
- 12 ounces cherry tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves
- freshly ground salt & black pepper
- ½ cup parmesan cheese or more to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the cooking instructions.
Meanwhile, gently heat the olive oil in a deep frying pan with a lid.
- Add the garlic, oregano, and chilli flakes to the pan and let cook until the garlic just begins to sizzle.
- Turn the heat up to high, then add the tomatoes to the pan. Cook for a few minutes with the lid on the pan, shaking from time to time until the tomatoes are juicy and blistered.
- Add the balsamic vinegar, most of the basil, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for a minute or two longer.
- Scoop out a cup of cooking water, then drain the pasta. Add the pasta to the pan and loosen the whole dish with a few splashes of the reserved cooking water.
- Ladle the pasta into dishes, then scatter with parmesan and the rest of the basil leaves. Finally, drizzle over a little more olive oil.
Recipe Video (at top of post on desktop!)
Recipe Notes
When everything is in the pan, including the pasta, add more pasta cooking water until the dish appears rich and silky. You don't want it to be watery, you want the cooking water to cling to the pasta so it's neither too dry nor too watery.
I like to use Casareccia pasta for this dish, but many other types will work well - penne, conchigglie (shells), even spaghetti.
I love your specificity – 12 minutes! Really, who doesn’t need a back pocket dinner recipe that’s on the table in less than 15. And this looks perfectly delicious to me! Just in time for tomatoes and basil coming in to season here!
Hahaha… I know! But it really does take 12 minutes – no more and no less!
I love the flavors in this and how quick and easy it is!
Thanks, April!!
I love the beauty and simplicity of this delicious cherry tomato pasta recipe! It’s a perfect recipe for busy families and makes a great mid-week meal.
Thank you for your review, Denay – really appreciate it! What I love most about this is that it’s food beauty made with the simplest of store cupboard ingredients. There aren’t many recipes like that!