Pasta with Lemony Tomato Sauce
This recipe is sunshine in a bowl! This is a twist on fresh tomato sauce with a zing of lemon zest and lemon juice.
Equipment
- pasta pot
- saute pan
- strainer
- knife
- cutting board
- zester or microplane
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion, chopped medium
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 plum tomatoes chopped course (approx 1 lb 9 oz)
- 1 tbsp lemon zest from one lemon using a microplane or zester
- 3 tbsp lemon juice from one lemon
- 2 tbsp fresh basil rough chopped or chiffonade (or 1 tsp dried basil)
- 1/3 cup vegetable or chicken broth ***see note below
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 lb pasta
- *** Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water if you don't have broth
Instructions
- Boil the water for pasta. Begin cooking the pasta in boiling water seasoned with 1 tbsp Kosher salt. Cook pasta according to the package directions. While pasta is cooking, start the sauce. ***When pasta is cooked, reserve some pasta water when straining approximately 1/2 cup (see note below).
- In a saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat and saute the onions with 2 generous pinches of kosher salt. Cook until translucent, about 6-7 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, around 30 seconds to one minute.
- Add the tomatoes and about 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper (about 10 turns of the peppermill) and saute stirring frequently. The tomatoes should look like they're softening a bit while still retaining their shape.
- After about 4 minutes, add the lemon zest and broth (or pasta water if using). Lower the heat to medium low and continue to simmer and stir occasionally.
- After about 6-7 minutes, add lemon juice and basil when the tomatoes are cooked but still chunky. Stir the simmering sauce for about 1 minute more. Check for seasonings and add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot over warm pasta. Top with more fresh basil leaves and parmesan cheese, if desired.
- ***Note: If you don't have vegetable or chicken broth on hand, you can use the pasta water instead. You may need a little more salt if you use this option. Just taste it and adjust your seasonings accordingly. ***You can also use a splash of the reserved pasta water or extra broth to loosen up the tomatoes if you prefer your sauce a little more loose.
