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a serving of freshly made pasta pomodoro in a white bowl.
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5 from 5 votes

Pasta Pomodoro

This authentic Pasta Pomodoro is a delicious Italian classic that only requires a handful of simple ingredients and just about 35 minutes of your time! It’s spaghetti tossed together with an incredibly fresh and flavorful sauce composed of ripe tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil simmered together with a mixture of rich butter and olive oil.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: pasta pomodoro
Servings: 6
Calories: 422kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound spaghetti uncooked
  • 2 tablespoons butter unsalted
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 cups tomatoes chopped, about 4 to 6 large tomatoes
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ¼ cup fresh basil chopped
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated

Instructions

  • Cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water then drain the spaghetti.
    process shots showing how to make pasta pomodoro.
  • Meanwhile, add the butter and oil to a large Dutch oven and heat over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes until the onion softens. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
    process shots showing how to make pasta pomodoro.
  • Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper, sugar and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 5 minutes until the tomato starts to break down, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Taste for seasoning and adjust as necessary.
    process shots showing how to make pasta pomodoro.
  • Stir in the basil. Add the cooked spaghetti and half of the pasta water. Toss everything well to combine. Add more pasta water if needed.
    process shots showing how to make pasta pomodoro.
  • Serve topped with Parmesan cheese and more basil.

Video

Notes

  1. Use quality ingredients. Traditional Italian pasta dishes use fewer, but higher-quality ingredients. So better olive oil, parmesan cheese, and super fresh produce will make a noticeable difference in the outcome.
  2. Salt your pasta water. And use a lot of it! You want the water to be salty like the sea so that the spaghetti is seasoned by the salt as it cooks and absorbs some of the water.
  3. Serve immediately. Do not leave the pasta sitting in the sauce in the warm pot. The spaghetti will continue to cook and turn from tender to mushy if left for too long.
  4. Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
  5. Then to reheat, simply mix it with a few tablespoons of water to add some moisture, and then pop it in the microwave for a few minutes on medium power or in a pan for a few minutes at a medium temperature.
  6. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months, but pasta really doesn't keep all that well in the freezer. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 422kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 148mg | Potassium: 464mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1112IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 137mg | Iron: 1mg