Fresh Tomato Pasta with Basil

Fresh Tomato Pasta With Basil

The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 8 mins
Total: 23 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

The temperature contrast in this simple summery pasta recipe is refreshing—warm, freshly cooked pasta and cool, raw tomatoes. There are only a few ingredients, so for the best flavor, make sure they’re the highest quality possible.

The dish is best made in the summertime with the freshest tomatoes and basil you can find. (Note: Off-season tomatoes tend to have a mealy texture and a lack of flavor.) If you have a garden, this is a great use of your carefully grown produce. If you don't have a green thumb, get your tomatoes and basil at a farmers market. The tomatoes should be firm and heavy, with no soft spots and thin skin. You can tell if the skin is thin by running your fingers over the surface—it should feel delicate and smooth.

If you can find some freshly made pasta instead of using dry, all the better. The olive oil should be the really good stuff, and the lemon juice must be fresh. Freshly grated Parmesan is also preferred because the flavor is superior and it will melt together with the other ingredients better than the packaged version.

Serve the dish with hot and crisp toasted garlic bread and a green salad tossed with some sliced mushrooms or diced ripe avocados.

Ingredients

  • 4 to 6 ripe tomatoes, chopped

  • 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed

  • 1/3 cup basil leaves, stems removed, chopped

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 1 pound spaghetti, or linguine or fettuccine pasta

  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Fresh Tomato Pasta With Basil ingredients

    The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

  2. Place tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh basil in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Mix gently and set aside to marinate.

    tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh basil in a large bowl

    The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

  3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a fast boil and add spaghetti; cook until al dente according to package directions, about 7 to 8 minutes.

    pasta in a pot of water

    The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

  4. Drain pasta and immediately toss with the tomato mixture.

    pasta and tomato mixture together in a pot

    The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

  5. Serve immediately, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

    Fresh Tomato Pasta With Basil in a bowl

    The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

Variations

  • Replace all or part of the pasta with zucchini noodles for a gluten-free dish packed with veggies.
  • Gluten-free or whole wheat pasta works well for this recipe.
  • Add one minced garlic clove or use garlic-infused olive oil for an extra punch of flavor.

Tips

  • Most recipes for this type of pasta don't add cheese, but just a little bit really brings the flavors together. Omit it if you're vegan or lactose intolerant.
  • Don't omit the lemon juice. You can't really taste it, but the fresh juice brightens up all the flavors.
  • Use the leftovers (if any) to make tomato pasta frittata.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
267 Calories
14g Fat
28g Carbs
7g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 267
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 7mg 2%
Sodium 256mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 28g 10%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 14mg 72%
Calcium 92mg 7%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 333mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)