12-Minute Cherry Tomato Pasta Recipe

Why you’ll love it

There are so many things to love about this simple cherry tomato pasta recipe from Southern Italy – with its delicious blistered cherry tomato sauce!

• Just 7 pantry ingredients and on the table in around 12 minutes! This is the ultimate simple summer pasta recipe. In fact, this dish is very similar to a dish that the Italians call ‘pasta sciue sciue’ – pronounced ‘shoo-ee shoo-ee’ and meaning ‘pasta in a hurry’!
• Simple but delicious. The simplicity of the dish allows the flavors of the few simple ingredients to shine without taking too much attention away from the fun and whimsical pasta.
  
  ‘Blistering’ the tomatoes in the sauce, or cooking them quickly in a hot skillet, brings out their natural sweetness while adding a slightly smoky flavor. The juicy, blistered tomatoes combine with the olive oil & balsamic to make the most delicious simple sauce!
• The unique twisted shape of casarecce pasta is great at helping the pasta hold onto sauces. But it also adds a playful and fun touch to your dish, don’t you think?
• Family-friendly. The tasty but simple flavors and easy prep make it perfect midweek meal the whole family can enjoy.

About the ingredients

Pasta: If you can’t find ‘casarecce’ pasta easily, any short, twisted pasta shape could be a great substitution for your cherry tomato pasta. For example, spiral-shaped fusilli, which is generally easy to find. Other pasta shapes similar to casarecce are gemelli, rotini, farfalle (bow-tie pasta), or even penne. All of these pasta shapes hold the sauce well, just like casarecce does!

Olive oil: For cooking, plus a little extra for drizzling over at the end. For the freshest, brightest flavor, try to use a good quality extra virgin olive oil.

Garlic: Use 2 fresh cloves, either sliced or crushed.

Dried oregano: Feel free to substitute with a different Mediterranean dried herb such as thyme, basil, or Italian seasoning. For more ideas, you can check out this guide to oregano substitutes that I wrote!

Chili flakes: Just a pinch! And of course this is optional if you prefer not to add any heat, or want to serve the meal to the kids. Red pepper flakes are a good alternative.

Cherry tomatoes: The best time to make this is when cherry tomatoes are at their brightest and juiciest. However, of course you can make it whenever you need a quick and easy pantry meal in a hurry.

They’ll squish into the 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!

Other types of small tomatoes such as multi-colored cherry tomatoes (red, orange, green, purple for instance), grape tomatoes, or cocktail tomatoes are of course also fine.

Balsamic vinegar: You’ll be surprised how much depth of flavor just a tablespoon adds to the dish.

Fresh basil: You’ll add the whole of a small bunch to the pasta to bring its fresh and slightly sweet and peppery aromatic flavor (and a touch of green!) to the dish.

Freshly ground salt and black pepper: Of course! Taste and adjust before serving for a perfectly seasoned meal.

Parmesan cheese: To sprinkle generously over the finished dish before serving. Skip the parmesan and use a pasta without egg if you’d prefer the dish to be vegan.

How to make it

One of the things I love most about this super simple cherry tomato pasta recipe 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!

Firstly, add a huge splash of olive oil to a large pan and heat gently. Then add the oregano and chili to the pan.

Just as the oil begins to sizzle, turn up the heat to high and add the cherry tomatoes to the pan. Put the lid on, then cook for a few minutes, shaking a few times as the tomatoes sizzle, burst, and get lovely and juicy.

Then add the garlic to the pan as well as a dash of balsamic vinegar and the basil. Cook for a minute or two longer to cook (but not burn) the garlic.

Now it’s time to add the cute pieces of cooked pasta to the pan! Toss the al dente pasta together with the lovely juicy blistered tomatoes, flavors and juices.

Ladle into bowls, then top with a generous amount of parmesan cheese, extra fresh basil and another drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Variations

• Why not wilt a little fresh spinach or arugula (rocket) into the dish just before serving?

• For a richer version of the dish, add a splash or two of heavy cream towards the end of cooking. Let simmer for a minute or two to thicken.

• Feel free to add more vegetables along with the tomatoes for more veggie goodness in the dish. How about finely diced zucchini or eggplant, or thin strips of red peppers?

• Switch the balsamic vinegar for balsamic glaze to add a delicious sweet and caramelized note to the dish.

• For a caprese-inspired twist, tear fresh mozzarella cheese and stir it through at the end. Alternatively, how about crumbled feta cheese?

How to serve

I serve this when I want a quick and easy no fuss meal that everyone will eat. I don’t think it really needs anything on the side.

Since it’s vegetarian, however, you can also serve it as a side dish. How about serving it with roast chicken, fish or steak on the side for the meat and fish lovers among you?

If you have an air fryer, try this 1-hour air fryer whole roast chicken to serve with it!

If you would like to serve your cherry tomato pasta with a simple vegetable side, try these 10-minute frozen green beans or this simple Greek lettuce salad.

Would you like some bread on the side? These 2-minute olive oil toasts are always a great option, or if you you’re looking to impress try this easy Italian focaccia bread.

More easy pasta recipes

• 15-minute creamy pesto chicken with mushrooms and parmesan (I usually serve this with tagliatelle!)
• 6-ingredient fennel and sausage pasta (recipe includes a stove top or pressure cooker version)
• chicken and mushroom pasta (not much cream!) or a classic pasta carbonara (not much cream in this one, either!) or this veggie green pea pasta (you guessed it, no cream!).
• chorizo pasta (the perfect mix of tasty and comforting!)
• 20-minute prosciutto pasta (this one’s great for spring!)

Or take a look at all my pasta recipes.