Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce

04/13/2011

Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce

It's cold and wet in New York. I want to camp out on my couch under a big, fuzzy blanket and watch I Love Lucy reruns all day long. Have I ever mentioned that I love I Love Lucy? It's my favorite show of all time and I never get sick of watching it. She's adorable and I'll never understand why Ricky wouldn't let her be in the show. Honestly!

This is one of my favorite episodes ever!

Getting back to the cold and wet day... When the weather is gross like today, you need something to lift your spirits. I usually self-medicate with food. It has the ability to always make me feel better. That's why I never deny myself anything, I just learn to control portions....sometimes. One thing that always puts a smile on my face is a big heaping bowl of pasta. At our house, we try to limit the amount we eat because, although it's delicious, it can make you feel weighed down. But a rainy day almost demands a generous serving of pasta.

This dish is perfect to make on a weeknight. It's quick and the preparation is minimal. I bought two containers of grape tomatoes (you can use cherry tomatoes, of course, but grape was on special) and literally cooked them down with a little olive oil and garlic. I usually add fresh basil or oregano to tomato sauce but I didn't for this dish. It was tasty enough without herbs. I served the pasta with some spicy sausages and a big glass of a bold red wine.

Fresh Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

good quality olive oil (the more, the better)

5 cloves of garlic thinly sliced

2 containers of grape or cherry tomatoes (I think they're one pint each)

salt and pepper to taste

one box of spaghetti cooked al dente

Parmesan cheese (optional)

Method:

Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add a few slices of garlic to the oil to flavor it. Discard garlic once it has turned golden.

Add tomatoes to pan. Careful as there may be some oil splatter! Season with salt and pepper. Let the tomatoes cook over medium-high until they begin to soften a bit, about 10 minutes.

Lower the heat to medium-low, add the rest of the garlic and let simmer uncovered for another 6-7 minutes.

Using a fork, press down on the tomatoes to release the juices. Stir and allow for sauce to thicken, about 6-7 minutes.

Add cooked pasta to pan and toss well. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

Happy cooking!

Apr 13, 2011 8:52:42 AM | comfort food, italian, pasta

11 Comments

The grape tomatoes sound perfect and they look beautiful! A really lovely and yet simple dish that I'll be making very soon! thanks!

Posted by: KC Quaretti-Lee | 04/13/2011 at 09:15 AM

A lovely dish with great photos. Simple yet elegant!

Posted by: KC Quaretti-Lee | 04/13/2011 at 09:16 AM

I have been on such a pasta kick lately. This looks delicious. I have been sad that the tomatoes have been so expensive in the stores lately, and not very tasty. I am hoping for some fresh locals ones soon as the weather warms up.

Posted by: Emily @ Life On Food | 04/14/2011 at 05:46 AM

Mmmm I LOVE fresh, homemade tomato sauce! This looks incredible, thanks for sharing! :)

Posted by: Kelly | 04/14/2011 at 06:00 AM

I smiled when I saw you posted the I Love Lucy clip. Amazing how some things just make you smile. This dish does look perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.

Posted by: kita | 04/14/2011 at 06:36 PM