Prep Time
10 mins
Servings
4 Servings
Cook Time
15 mins
Difficulty
Easy
A bright, budget-friendly Italian lunch ready in minutes. Al dente pasta is tossed with blistered cherry tomatoes, lemon, fresh basil and Parmesan for a lively, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
320g dried pasta (spaghetti or penne) (about 80g per person)
300g cherry tomatoes, halved (use ripe tomatoes for best flavour)
2 cloves garlic, finely sliced or minced
60ml extra virgin olive oil (about 4 tbsp)
1 lemon, zest and juice (yields about 1 tsp zest and 30ml juice)
40g Parmesan, finely grated (plus extra to serve)
10g fresh basil leaves, torn
1 tsp sea salt (for the pasta water)
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
60-120ml pasta cooking water, reserved (use to loosen the sauce as needed)
Method
Step 1
Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil, add the 1 tsp sea salt and cook the pasta following packet instructions until just al dente. Before draining, reserve 60–120ml of the cooking water then drain the pasta.
Step 2
While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30–60 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
Step 3
Add the halved cherry tomatoes to the pan, season lightly with a pinch of salt and cook for 4–6 minutes until the skins start to blister and the tomatoes soften.
Step 4
Stir in the lemon zest and juice, then add half the torn basil. Turn the heat to low.
Step 5
Add the drained pasta to the pan with about 60ml reserved pasta water. Toss well to combine and create a glossy sauce, adding more reserved water a little at a time if the mixture seems dry.
Step 6
Turn off the heat, stir in the grated Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt or more lemon if needed. Fold through the remaining basil.
Step 7
Serve immediately with a little extra grated Parmesan and a sprinkle of basil on top.
Nutritional Information
Per serving:
Energy - 480kcal
Protein - 15g
Carbohydrates - 64g
Fat - 18g
Fibre - 3g
This nutritional information is provided as a helpful estimate. Values may vary depending on the ingredients and portion sizes you use.
Recipe Notes
Reserve pasta water to loosen the sauce and create a silky finish. For a gluten-free option use a labelled gluten-free pasta and check cooking time.
