Spaghetti al Pomodoro

Steps

1. 1Prepare the ingredients

   Wash the tomatoes and cut them in half. Peel and slightly crush the garlic cloves. Tear the basil leaves by hand to release their aroma.

   Cherry tomatoGarlicBasil
2. 2Infuse the oil1 min

   In a large skillet, heat about 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the crushed garlic cloves and cook for about a minute. Ensure the garlic infuses the oil but doesn't burn.

   Use the best quality olive oil you can find for this dish.

   Extra virgin olive oilGarlic
3. 3Cook the tomato sauce7m 30s

   Add the halved tomatoes to the skillet and season with a good pinch of salt. Stir in the torn basil leaves, allowing their fragrance to blend with the tomatoes. Add a splash of water to help the tomatoes soften. Cover the skillet and let the sauce simmer for 5-10 minutes, or until the tomatoes have broken down into a chunky sauce. Stir occasionally.

   Buy the best quality tomatoes you can find.

   Cherry tomatoSaltBasil
4. 4Cook the spaghetti

   While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1/4 cup of the pasta water before draining the spaghetti.

   SpaghettiSaltWater
5. 5Add garlic purée

   When the pasta is almost ready, take the garlic cloves out of the sauce, place them on your chopping board, crush them to get a nice garlic purée, and place it back inside the sauce.

   Garlic
6. 6Toss the pasta

   Once the spaghetti are cooked, add it directly to the skillet with the tomato sauce. Toss the spaghetti in the sauce to coat it evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of the reserved pasta water to achieve the desired consistency.

   SpaghettiWater
7. 7Finish and serve

   Turn the heat off and drizzle a little more olive oil over the pasta and toss in some fresh basil leaves and freshly grated Grana Padano cheese. Stir it well again. Serve the Spaghetti al Pomodoro hot, with extra cheese and basil on the top if desired.

   Extra virgin olive oilBasilGrana Padano cheese