Tomato Basil Spaghettini Recipes

SPAGHETTI WITH FRESH TOMATO AND BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Blanch the tomatoes and remove the skins. Cut in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Cut the tomatoes crosswise. Set aside in a bowl.
• Heat 3 ounces olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until it smokes slightly. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper. Since the tomatoes will reduce and the salt will be concentrated, it is better to season initially with a lighter hand.
• Chop the tomatoes with a potato masher until they are in fine chunks and all their liquid is released. Be sure they are chopped and crushed fine, for a semichunky sauce. Simmer for 25 minutes over medium heat.
• While the sauce simmers, heat the water for the pasta. Cook the spaghetti in salted water about half of the way cooked. Drain, reserving some of the water.
• Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Add the pasta to the sauce and cook over medium-high heat until all the liquid is absorbed and the pasta is al dente. If the sauce is over-reduced, use the pasta cooking liquid to adjust it.
• At the last moment, remove the pan from the heat; add the extra-virgin olive oil, butter, basil and cheese. Mix thoroughly until the pasta is an orangy color. Taste again and adjust the salt if necessary. Remove to a platter. Serve.

SPAGHETTI WITH TOMATO AND BASIL

Steps:

• In a wide pan over medium-high heat, heat 1/3 cup of olive oil until quite hot. Add the tomatoes, red pepper flakes, and season lightly with the salt and pepper. (I always start with a light hand with the salt and pepper because as the tomatoes reduce, the salt will become concentrated.) Using a potato masher, mash the tomatoes finely. (This will be easier to do as the tomatoes begin to heat up.) Cook the tomatoes for 20 to 25 minutes, until the tomatoes are tender and the sauce has thickened.
• Meanwhile, stack and roll the basil leaves into a cylinder and cut thinly crosswise into a chiffonade.
• Bring a large pot of amply salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until just shy of al dente. Reserve a little of the pasta cooking water. Add the pasta to the sauce and cook over medium-high heat, gently tossing the pasta and the sauce together with a couple of wooden spoons and a lot of exaggerated movement (you can even shake the pan) until the pasta is just tender and the sauce, if any oil had separated from it, now looks cohesive. (If the sauce seems too thick, add a little pasta cooking liquid to adjust it.) Take the pan off of the heat and toss the butter, basil and cheese with the pasta in the same manner (the pasta should take on an orange hue) and serve immediately.
• Cook's Note: Here is a good tip for peeling and seeding tomatoes: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Have a large bowl of ice water nearby. Cut a small shallow X on the bottom of each tomato. Ease about 5 tomatoes into the pot and cook for about 15 seconds, and then promptly move them to the ice water. (Do this with the remaining tomatoes.) Pull off the skin with the tip of a paring knife. If the skin sticks, try a vegetable peeler using a gentle sawing motion. Cut the tomatoes in half and use your finger to flick out the seeds.

SPAGHETTI WITH TOMATOES & BASIL

Steps:

• Boil the pasta following pack instructions, about 9 mins. Meanwhile, put all the remaining ingredients in a large bowl with plenty of seasoning and toss together. Drain the pasta well, add to the tomato mixture and toss everything together until well mixed.

SPAGHETTI WITH FRESH TOMATO-BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until slightly less than al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, heat oil and garlic in a large straight-sided skillet over medium-high until just sizzling, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and basil sprigs; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer until reduced to about 2 cups, 8 to 10 minutes. Discard basil.
• Add pasta and 1/4 cup pasta water; cook, stirring, until pasta is cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Add cheese and continue stirring and shaking pan, adding more pasta water as needed to create a creamy sauce. Serve, sprinkled with more cheese, basil leaves, and pepper, and drizzled with oil.

TOMATO BASIL SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the spaghetti to al dente, about 8 minutes or according to your package directions.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, half of the basil and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent - about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the tomato sauce. Bring to a simmer while you break up the tomatoes with the side of a spoon. Simmer gently for about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Drain the pasta and put in a large serving bowl. Pour over the sauce and add all but a handful of the left over basil. Toss until the pasta is well coated with sauce. top with the remaining chopped basil, grated cheese and dried red pepper flakes. Enjoy!