Pasta with Tomatoes

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   Gather all the ingredients listed in the recipe. How do you choose spaghetti? Buy durum-wheat pasta. It won't stick together or turn mushy when boiled. The color should be natural — golden or cream. If it's an unnaturally bright yellow, dyes have been added. The surface of the pasta should be smooth and matte.

2. Step 2:

   

   Which tomatoes work best? Choose large, ripe, juicy ones. Wash them. Score a cross in the top with a sharp knife. Drop them into boiling water for 1–2 minutes. Remove, cool, and peel. Cut into small cubes. If the tomatoes are very juicy and watery and release a lot of liquid as you cut them, transfer them to a bowl so the juice doesn't run all over the cutting board.

3. Step 3:

   

   Rinse the cherry tomatoes and pat them dry with paper towels. Cut into rounds.

4. Step 4:

   

   Peel the garlic and cut the cloves in half. Wash the basil, dry it, and chop it finely.

5. Step 5:

   

   Put the butter in a skillet. Melt it, stirring constantly. Add the garlic. Sauté it for 2 minutes, then remove it — otherwise it will give off an unpleasant smell as it cooks further.

6. Step 6:

   

   Add the diced tomatoes to the skillet. Add salt and sugar. Stir. As they cook, the tomatoes will release their juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes. The excess liquid should evaporate in that time.

7. Step 7:

   

   Now add the cherry tomatoes and basil to the tomato sauce in the skillet. Stir everything together and take the skillet off the heat.

8. Step 8:

   

   While the sauce cooks, boil the pasta. How do you cook spaghetti properly? Pour water into a wide pot. Set it on the heat. When it boils, add salt (about 10 g of salt per 100 g of pasta). Lower the spaghetti in fan-style, without breaking it. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally. Don't cover the pot. Cook until al dente (check the package for the cooking time). Taste it. When it's ready, drain the pasta in a colander. Whatever you do, don't rinse it with water.

9. Step 9:

   

   Transfer the spaghetti to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to combine. Divide the pasta among plates. Sprinkle with fresh basil leaves or parsley. Serve the dish hot. Enjoy!