Simple Cherry Tomato Pasta

SIMPLE CHERRY TOMATO PASTA😍

Friendly reminder that anyone can cook :) This is my favorite kind of cooking - no recipe, no measurements, just vibing. The beauty of finding joy in cooking is taking a general framework for a recipe and making it your own. This Cherry Tomato Pasta has been my go to simple dinner for years - it’s easy yet delicious, and is very much so a measure with your heart kind of recipe - from the garlic to the red pepper flakes to the parmesan cheese. I hope you too make this your own, and most importantly, find joy doing so.

Y’all know by now I have a great time experimenting in the kitchen, challenging myself with new recipes and learning new techniques. But what brings me the most joy and the reason I started Rockin Meals in the first place is having the pleasure to empower you all to try things you may not have before. Whether you just got into cooking or ventured into an international grocery store for the first time to make a recipe of mine, my favorite kind of messages are the ones where you allow me to share in the pride you feel for yourselves for having achieved that. And yes, to some it may just be a Pixar movie, but to me Ratatouille represents a message I have felt for so long - that anyone can cook and anyone can find joy in the kitchen. I hope you love this meal as much as I do!

Serves 2.

Ingredients:

For the Simple Cherry Tomato Pasta:

• 10 oz cherry tomatoes

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

• 6 garlic cloves, sliced thinly

• ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan + more for topping

• Red pepper flakes to taste

• 4oz spaghetti

• 4 fresh basil leaves, sliced thinly

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

For the Cherry Tomato Pasta:

• Get a pot of salted water to boiling.

• Add olive oil and sliced garlic to a large skillet and bring to medium heat.

• Once oil is hot, add in the cherry tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Cook until tomatoes have burst and released their juices, about 10-15 minutes. Stir frequently and watch the heat of your pan so the garlic doesn’t burn. You can use the back of a spoon to squish down the tomatoes once they are soft. Add red pepper flakes to taste.

• While your tomatoes are cooking, add the pasta to your pot of boiling water and cook to al dente.

• Once pasta is almost al dente, scoop out a ladle of pasta water and add to the tomatoes with the fresh basil. Cook down for 1-2 minutes until creamy and most of the water has been absorbed.

• Once spaghetti is al dente, drain and add to the pot of tomatoes with the parmesan cheese. Toss until creamy, using more cheese and pasta water as needed, and serve with a drizzle of olive oil, more parmesan, and more basil. Enjoy!