Craving a simple, yet delicious pasta dish? This Quick Rigatoni Pasta Pomodoro, with its roots in Italy, is a classic pasta dish known for its fresh ingredients and bold flavors. It’s a fantastic go-to meal for any night of the week, combining ease and authenticity, in every single bite.
What is Pomodoro
In Italian, “pomodoro” means “tomato.” The term is commonly used to refer to dishes that feature tomatoes as a primary ingredient.
Pasta Pomodoro is a classic Italian dish. The simple, homemade sauce is prepared using fresh tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, fresh basil and salt. It’s known for its light, fresh flavors, showcasing the natural taste of ripe tomatoes.
Why You Should Make This Quick Pasta Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This quick pasta dish in about 20 minutes, making it a perfect weeknight meal.
- Authentic Flavor: Uses fresh ingredients for an authentic Italian taste.
- Minimal Ingredients: Simple pantry staples and fresh produce.
- Versatile: Great for family dinners, date nights or meal prepping.
- Healthy and Light: Made with fresh tomatoes and olive oil.
Ingredients
Due to the simplicity of this homemade pasta recipe, there are limited substitutions, as each ingredient plays a crucial role in achieving the authentic, fresh flavor of Pasta Pomodoro.
- Rigatoni: Substitute with traditional spaghetti, cappellini, or your favorite pasta shape.
- Campari tomatoes: Substitute with Roma tomatoes, cherry tomatoes or canned whole tomatoes.
- Parmesan cheese: Feel free to leave out for a more authentic Pomodoro sauce, or substitute with Pecorino Romano or Grana Padano.
How to Prepare this Quick Rigatoni Pasta Pomodoro
In under 20 minutes, you can create a fresh pasta dish like this Quick Rigatoni Pasta Pomodoro. Keep in mind, pomodoro sauce is meant to be cooked quickly to preserve its vibrant, fresh flavors, unlike other tomato sauces, that require longer simmering times.
- Heat olive oil in a saucepan. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for a minute.
- Add halved tomatoes, salt and pepper. Sauté for a few minutes, then simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Cook rigatoni pasta to al dente.
- Crush the simmered tomatoes. Add a ladle of pasta water. Mix in the pasta.
- Add fresh basil and Parmesan cheese. Toss to coat.
- Serve with additional basil, Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil.
How to Serve and Store Pasta Pomodoro
Easily serve this Quick Rigatoni Pasta Pomodoro with:
- A fresh green salad for a light meal.
- Compliment the dish with crispy garlic bread.
Storing Leftovers
- Refrigeration: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat. Add a splash of water or olive oil to refresh the sauce.
- Freezing: Although best enjoyed fresh, you can freeze the Pomodoro sauce separately, for up to 2 months. Reheat and toss with freshly cooked pasta.
More Quick Pasta Recipes to Love
- Quick Pasta alla Vodka
- Quick Shrimp Scampi Pasta
- Creamy Tomato Orzo Pasta
- Spicy Lobster Pasta Pomodoro
- Spinach Lemon Ricotta Pasta
Quick Rigatoni Pasta Pomodoro
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This Quick Rigatoni Pasta Pomodoro, with its roots in Italy, is a classic pasta dish known for its fresh ingredients and bold flavors.
Ingredients
- 3/4 – 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 2 pounds Campari tomatoes, halved
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2–3 garlic cloves, sliced thin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- 8–10 fresh torn basil leaves
- 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- Drizzle of olive oil, to finish
Instructions
- In a deep saucepan, heat up the olive oil.
- Add the garlic and crushed red pepper. Sauté for a minute to infuse the oil.
- Add the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper.
- Let the tomatoes sauté for a few minutes before covering and allow to simmer and break down for about 5 minutes. If you prefer, remove the skin as the tomatoes are simmering.
- Cook the pasta to al dente.
- To finish the sauce, crush the tomatoes with the back of a fork to your desired texture.
- Pour in a ladle full of pasta water, then add the al dente pasta directly from the pot into the sauce.
- Add in the fresh basil, reserving some for garnish, and Parmesan cheese. Toss to coat.
- Plate the pasta. Garnish with more fresh basil and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
- Drizzle with a touch of olive oil. Serve immediately.
- ENJOY!
Equipment
Notes
- Use ripe Campari tomatoes for the best flavor and texture in the sauce.
- Infuse the olive oil with garlic and red pepper flakes to enhance the sauce’s aroma and flavor.
- Simmer the tomatoes just until they start to break down to maintain a chunky texture.
- Try to time the sauce and cooking the pasta to al dente. If using a quicker cooking pasta, drop the pasta after the tomatoes have simmered.
- Toss the pasta directly into the sauce to ensure it’s evenly coated and infused with flavor.
- Finish the dish with a drizzle of high-quality olive oil for added richness and depth of flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Pasta
- Method: Easy
- Cuisine: American, Italian
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