Spicy And Saucy Cherry Tomato Pasta Recipes

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente; drain and transfer to a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a 12" skillet or wide heavy saucepan over medium-high. Add garlic, then tomatoes, pepper, sugar, and 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes burst and release their juices to form a sauce, 6-8 minutes.
• Toss pasta with tomato sauce and basil. Top with Parmesan.

Steps:

• Begin heating a large pot of water for the pasta.
• Pulse the chopped tomatoes in a food processor fitted with the steel blade, or pass through the medium blade of a food mill with their juice before you begin. Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, wide nonstick skillet or saucepan and add the garlic and crumbled chili (or flakes). Cook, stirring, for 30 seconds to a minute, until the garlic is translucent and begins to smell fragrant, and add the tomatoes and their juice, salt, and oregano if using. Stir and turn up the heat. When the tomatoes begin to bubble, lower the heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until thick and fragrant, 15 to 25 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. Keep warm while you cook the pasta.
• When the pasta water comes to a boil, add a tablespoon of salt and the pasta. Cook the pasta al dente, following the timing instructions on the package but checking a minute or two before the time on the package. When the pasta is done, transfer to the pan with the sauce, add the basil if using, and toss together over medium heat until it is well coated with the sauce. Add half the cheese, toss together and serve, passing the remaining cheese at the table.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until 1 minute shy of al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking water.
• Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat for 15 seconds, then add the oil and heat until it thins out and easily coats the pan when swirled. Add pancetta and cook until it starts to render its fat, about 2 minutes. Add garlic, red pepper flakes and a large pinch of salt and pepper and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook until they burst, turn golden at the edges and shrivel up slightly, about 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add pasta to pan and toss with tomato-pancetta mixture; if the mixture looks dry add a little pasta cooking water a few tablespoons at a time. Cook over high heat until the pasta finishes cooking in the sauce. Add the butter and toss until it melts and coats everything.
• Divide pasta among warmed pasta bowls. Garnish with dollops of ricotta if desired, and top with a generous mound of fresh mint and scallions. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and more pepper before serving.