You might think I’m exaggerating. I am not.

I made this pasta recipe at least twice every week over the summer, and I will continue to do so through the fall semester. It’s the pasta to make to impress your significant other’s parents, to make for yourself when you’re in a hurry and stressed about work, to make when proving to your parents that you have learned how to cook, to make for a cute and easy dinner party with your roommates.

Ingredients (for 1-2 servings)

  • 2 cups (aka one plastic-container pint) of cherry tomatoes (not grape, unless absolutely necessary)
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • 2 heaping teaspoons of minced garlic (or 2 garlic cloves)
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 big tablespoon of butter
  • enough pasta for 1 person (will be very saucy… yum) or 2 people (less saucy, but delightful)

Instructions

  1. Feel free to start boiling your pasta in salted water right away, that’s chill
  2. Then, dump all of your tomatoes into a dry pan over med-high heat––no butter! no oil!
  3. Let the tomatoes start to blister, toss and roll them around a bit so no tomato gets especially burnt
  4. When they’re looking juicy and blistery, lower the heat (so nothing sizzles too wildly) and add the olive oil and the garlic
  5. Quickly get a big spoon and start squiiiiishing all the tomatoes squish squish squish and mix them in with the oil and garlic, they should be juicy enough that it starts to look like a sauce!
  6. When things are sufficiently saucy, add the balsamic vinegar and stir together
  7. You can turn the heat up a little bit, and you’re going to keep stirring and simmering for 5-10 minutes so the sauce can cook down until it’s less water, more juicy-thicc
  8. Don’t forget about your pasta! Is it looking done? A satisfactory texture? When your pasta is done boiling and your sauce has reduced down nicely, strain your pasta and add it right into the pan with your sauce!
  9. Stir everything up good and well, and toss in that big ol pat of butter!!!! Ahhhhhh it’s coming together!!!!
  10. Feel free to top with a little bit of parmesan if you’re a big cheese person, or season with some salt and pepper if that’s more your style. Enjoy!!!!!!!

the completed and delicious dish via Bwogger

sunlit cherry tomatoes via Unsplash