Spaghetti with lemon and summer cherry tomatoes
a simple summer pasta with a punch of lemon and heat
Ingredients
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic smashed and sliced
- 3 pints cherry tomatoes 1 pint halved
- 1 teaspoon habanero chile finely diced
- 2 lemons zested and juiced
- 1 pound dried bucatini or use thick spaghetti if you can't find it
- ⅓ cup Parmesan Reggiano grated or use pecorino, plus more for serving
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves roughly chopped, plus more for serving
- 1 cup fresh parsley roughly chopped, plus more for serving
- 2-3 links Italian sausage optional
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic, do not walk away from the stove. Cook until it is light brown, about 2 minutes. Add all of the tomatoes and chile. Season generously with salt. Cook until the tomatoes begin to burst, 8-10 minutes. Stir in half the lemon zest and all of the lemon juice. Continue to cook until most of the tomatoes have burst and begun to break down, 3-5 minutes. Set them aside and cover to keep warm.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the bucatini and cook according to the package directions until al dente
- Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Add the tomato mixture, grated cheese, and ½ cup of the pasta water to the pot and toss to combine. Add additional pasta water, as needed, to make a light sauce. Stir in the fresh herbs and a generous drizzle of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve warm with a sprinkle of fresh herbs, more grated cheese and some lemon zest
- If using sausage, slice 1 to 1½ inch pieces and sauté in a pan until browned and cooked through. Add on top and around the pasta once plated