This cherry tomato pasta sauce recipe is perfect for a fresh and easy homemade marinara. Leave the peel on and seeds in for an easy and fast tomato sauce.
Use any kind of pasta with cherry tomato sauce.
Cherry Tomato Sauce Tips
Cherry tomato sauce can be served pureed or chunky over your favorite pasta.
Bonus: any type of tomato will work for this homemade tomato sauce recipe.
Mashing the whole cherry tomatoes half way through is a way to get the juices out of them to help the sauce reduce.
Freeze leftover cherry tomato sauce for 2-3 months.
Do I Need To Peel The Cherry Tomatoes For Sauce
There is no need to peel the cherry tomatoes for this fresh tomato sauce recipe.
There is also no need to take the seeds out. Can you imagine seeding cherry tomatoes? That would take forever - pass!
Blend Cherry Tomato Sauce or Keep It Chunky
Some days call for pulling the blender out to make an uber smooth and traditional tomato marinara.
Other days call for faster, simpler, easier. On those days, keep the tomato sauce chunky and skip the blender.
How To Make A Quick Sauce With Cherry Tomatoes
The simplest way to make a fast sauce with cherry tomatoes is to simmer whole tomatoes with garlic, salt, and olive oil for about 20 minutes covered.
Leave the tomatoes whole for a chunky sauce. Mash them with a potato masher for less chunky. Puree cherry tomatoes for a smooth marinara.
Ingredient Variations For Cherry Tomato Sauce
Fresh homemade cherry tomato sauce is versatile. I love garnishing with burrata (creamy Mozzarella) and fresh basil.
Here are a couple more ideas:
- crushed red pepper flakes
- dry seasonings: oregano, basil, thyme, parsley...
- fresh herbs: same same
- different cheeses: Parmesan, Feta, Mozzarella, Burrata, Colby Jack...
- cooked veggies like: onions, bell peppers, carrots...
- drizzled extra virgin olive oil
- a dash of butter or heavy whipping cream to make a creamy pasta
Kinds Of Pasta For Cherry Tomato Sauce
Use any kind of pasta for homemade cherry tomato sauce. Radiatori is pictured and used in the video. Try other kinds of pasta:
- Long or flat pasta like: spaghetti, angel hair, linguini, bucatini, pappardelle, lasagna
- Hollow short pasta like: penne, ziti, rigatoni, macaroni
- Pasta with divets to hold sauce: radiatori, farfalle, orecchiette, rotini
- Pasta with fillings: ravioli, agnolotti, tortillini
- Small pasta: orzo, ditalini, stellini,
Cherry Tomato Sauce For Pasta - Pureed, Fresh, Easy
This homemade cherry tomato pasta sauce recipe is perfect for a fresh and easy homemade marinara. Leave the peel on and seeds in for an easy and fast tomato sauce. Use any kind of pasta with cherry tomato sauce. Leave tomato sauce chunky or blend for a traditional sauce.
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 5 1x
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp (3 cloves) garlic, roughly chopped
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 2 pounds (8 cups) cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup basil, divided ½ cup whole, ½ cup sliced for garnish
- ½ tsp dried Italian Seasoning
- salt to taste
- 12 oz pasta, cooked according to package instructions
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions.
- Bring a medium size pan to medium high heat and add 2 tablespoon olive oil.
- When hot add garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook 1-2 minutes or until integrated with oil. Add a little more oil if it looks dry.
- Add whole cherry tomatoes, ¼ teaspoon salt, dried Italian seasoning, and ½ cup whole basil leaves.
- Cook covered for ~ 10 minutes.
- Mash tomatoes up with a potato masher (wear an apron - could be hot and messy!).
- Cook uncovered for remaining 10 minutes. Add salt to taste.
- Puree in a blender for a smooth sauce or eat chunky.
- Mix with cooked pasta and add olive oil to taste.
- Garnish with sliced basil.
Notes
- Optional: Add fresh Parmesan cheese or Burrata.
- Freeze leftover cherry tomato sauce. Stays good in freezer easily for a couple months.
- Mashing the whole cherry tomatoes half way through is a way to get the juices out of them.
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 30 Minutes
- Category: Dinner / Main Dish, Lunch
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Italian
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Things In My Kitchen:
- Blender - I love my low profile Vitamix but it's spendy. I've used the Ninja blender before and think it's a fantastic blender at a fraction of the cost.
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Serving Suggestion
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