Easy Tomato Basil Sauce Recipe
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Roasted garlic, buttery cherry tomatoes and a mountain of fresh basil- this is a tomato basil sauce that a nonna would approve of. If youโre a lover of classic pasta dishes like tagliatelle carbonara, then this dish will win you over.
Table of Contents
Why youโll love this recipe
- Elevated flavor, without a lot of effort – with pasta dishes with few ingredients like these, I love to think of ways to elevate the classic ingredients. With this tomato basil sauce, I use roasted garlic and instead of regular chopped tomatoes, I use canned cherry tomatoes.
- Simple yet effective – basil tomato sauce is a classic for a reason, theyโre a winning duo. Dishes like this and other Italian easy sauces (hello pasta e pisilli & meatballs in sauce) focus on perfecting the method rather than adding lots of different ingredients.
- Versatile base on a budget ~ you can devour this tomato basil sauce recipe simply with pasta or you can incorporate it into your other favorite dishes that require a red based sauce. Like a lasagna or a meatless baked ziti.
Add some easy pre-made chicken to this pasta dish to up the protein by making a boiled whole chicken, boiled chicken thighs, or boiled chicken tenderloins.
Ingredients
The main ingredients that make this Tomato Basil Sauce recipe fantastic are the following:
Whole bulb of garlic ~ you may be thinking woaaah I donโt want to add a whole bulb of garlic into my tomato and basil sauce recipe. Dont worry- by roasting it you get a more mellow, buttery flavor which is far less strong than usual fried/raw garlic.
Canned cherry tomatoes ~ for an elevated feel, I love the flavor and texture that these provide.
See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and quantities.
Variations/ Adaptations
Love spice? Add a kick ~ I add some red pepper flakes in my tomato and basil sauce recipe but you can switch with chilli flakes or fresh chilli to turn up the heat.
Boost the protein ~ if youโve checked out my guide on how to boil chicken thighs or how to boil chicken tenderloins, then you can shred some prepped chicken into your sauce to add protein and volume to your dish.
Dried basil ~ I do think that fresh basil gives this recipe the best and most authentic flavor, but if you want to use fried basil as a more budget friendly alternative than that is fine! Use 1.5 tsp of dried basil in place of the fresh
How to make tomato basil sauce
Step 1: Slice the top of the garlic bulb off, add 1 tsp of olive oil, wrap it in foil and cook for 15 minutes at 200ยฐC/400ยฐF.
Step 2: While the garlic cooks, add olive oil to a large frying pan and sautรฉ the chopped onion over medium high heat.
Step 3: Season the onions with salt and a sprinkle of chili flakes.
Step 4: Add the cherry tomatoes to the pan.
Step 5: Add the stock to the pan, mix everything together and bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
Step 6: Add a handful of basil and cook for 15 minutes.
Step 7: While the sauce cooks, squish the roasted garlic out of the skin and finely chip it. then add it and the butter to the sauce and mix well.
Step 8: Add your favorite al dente pasta and enjoy!
I love adding a bit more protein alongside my pasta dishes! If you’re like me you should try air fryer cod, salmon bites, or flounder.
Tips for the best result
Here are my top tips to get the best homemade tomato basil sauce:
- Toss the cold butter in cubes into your tomato basil sauce in the final stages. This will help it to emulsify.
- Undercook your pasta so that itโll finish cooking in the sauce- this will help the sauce to bind to the pasta.
- Reserve your pasta water- this is liquid gold and we need it to ensure the perfect consistency for a glossy, emulsified sauce.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can! Switch the two cans with 800g ripe fresh tomatoes and 3 tbsp tomato puree to ensure a rich flavor.ย
Absolutely, in fact, I encourage doubling the recipe and freezing half so you have an emergency supply of delicious sauce thatโs easy to pair with anything! Simply let cool and transfer to an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months, then let thaw on the counter when youโre ready to eat.ย
I love to use short shapes such as fusilli and rigatoni (mezze rigatoni is a new fave) but as itโs such a versatile sauce, you can also pair with long shapes like spaghetti or tagliatelle.ย
If you tried this Tomato Basil Sauce Recipe, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys ๐ Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x
Tomato Basil Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 bulb of garlic (ยฃ0.39)
- 1 onion, finely diced (ยฃ0.15)
- 800 g can of cherry tomatoes (ยฃ2.50)
- Large handful of basil (ยฃ0.52)
- 50 g butter, sliced into cubes (ยฃ2/5= ยฃ0.40)
- 400 g pasta of choice (ยฃ0.79)
- Optional parmesan
Cupboard Essentials
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Salt
- Red pepper flakes
- 400 ml vegetable stock
Method
- To your bulb of garlic, slice the very top of the bulb off to slightly expose the cloves. Then, add 1 tsp of oil onto it. Wrap in foil and cook in the air fryer for 15 minutes at 200ยฐC/400ยฐF.
- Meanwhile, to a large frying pan, add the EV olive oil and onion. Season with salt and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. Gently fry over a medium/low heat for 5-6 minutes, or until softened.
- Next, add the cherry tomatoes and stock to the pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer. Add a large handful of basil and set a timer to 15 minutes.
- During this time, add your pasta to heavily salted boiling water, setting your timer to the packet time minus two minutes.
- Carefully squish the roasted garlic out of the skin and finely chop to ensure it mixes easily. Add to the sauce along with the butter. Stir to incorporate everything, then transfer your al dente pasta into the pan.
- Loosen if necessary with pasta water and continue to cook until the pasta is perfectly cooked and the sauce is glossy. Finish with more fresh basil, an optional sprinkle of parmesan and another pinch of red pepper flakes. Enjoy
Notes
- Slightly undercook your pasta so it can finish cooking right in the sauceโthis helps the sauce cling to the pasta beautifully for a more flavorful bite.
- Save your pasta water before drainingโitโs liquid gold! A splash of it can transform your sauce into a silky, restaurant-worthy masterpiece.
- Add cold, cubed butter to your tomato basil sauce at the very end. It melts in gently and helps create a rich, glossy, perfectly emulsified finish.
Nutrition
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