Capellini with cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and basil is a simple and delicious Italian pasta dish. Here’s a basic recipe for you:
Ingredients:
- 8 oz (about 225g) capellini pasta
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 4 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn or chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Ingredients:
- Start by boiling a large pot of salted water for the capellini. Once the water is boiling, add the pasta and cook it according to the package instructions until al dente. This usually takes around 3-5 minutes for capellini.
- Sauté the Garlic and Tomatoes:
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced garlic and cook for about 1-2 minutes until it becomes fragrant and starts to turn golden, but be careful not to let it brown too much.
- Add the cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook them for about 3-4 minutes, or until they start to soften and blister. You can use the back of a fork to lightly crush some of the tomatoes to release their juices.
- Combine Pasta and Tomatoes:
- Once the capellini is cooked, reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, and then drain the pasta.
- Add the cooked capellini to the skillet with the garlic and tomatoes. Toss everything together, using some of the reserved pasta cooking water if needed to create a light sauce. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. The starchy pasta water will help create a silky sauce that coats the pasta.
- Finish with Basil:
- Remove the skillet from the heat and add the torn or chopped basil leaves. Toss the pasta again to incorporate the basil into the dish.
- Serve:
- Divide the capellini with cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and basil among serving plates. If you like, you can sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese on top. The dish is also excellent with a drizzle of extra olive oil and a bit more fresh basil for garnish.
This dish is best served immediately while it’s hot and the flavors are vibrant. Enjoy your homemade capellini with cherry tomatoes and basil!
