This Caramelized Cherry Tomato Pasta features jammy caramelized cherry tomatoes, garlic-infused olive oil, and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper for just the right amount of heat!
Ready in just 20 minutes, this simple Mediterranean dish is perfect for hot summer days!
Caramelized Cherry Tomato Pasta
Living far away, I sometimes crave the *ULTRA* Mediterranean flavors I grew up with: healthy, simple, yet crazy good!
This Caramelized Cherry Tomato Pasta is the perfect dish to satisfy those cravings and I may have just gobbled up the whole 4 servings myself hehe! Try it and let me know what you think!
Why you’ll love this pasta:
- Flavorful. Sweet caramelized cherry tomatoes, delicious garlic-infused olive oil, topped with salt, pepper, and cayenne for a fun savory-sweet dish with a hint of spicy!
- Healthy. No cream or milk needed — just pure authentic Mediterranean flavors!
- Simple ingredients. Make this pasta with just a few pantry staples!
- Ready in 20 minutes. Quick and easy to make, perfect for hot summer days!
- Vegetarian and Vegan, make it Gluten-Free by using your favorite Gluten-Free pasta!
Ingredients
Pasta. I recommend either fettuccine or spaghetti but rigatoni, penne, or fresh orecchiette also work!
Olive oil. This pasta has very simple ingredients so make sure to use high-quality ones to make the flavors pop! Use high-quality extra-virgin olive oil.
Garlic. Use fresh garlic for this pasta, you want the flavor of fresh garlic when you let it bloom in the oil.
Cherry tomatoes. Your regular red cherry tomatoes.
Brown sugar. White sugar also works but I really like brown sugar because of its deeper earthier flavor, I find regular white sugar to be a bit too sharp and plain.
Apple cider vinegar, to balance out the sweetness of the caramelized cherry tomatoes and add some brightness to the flavor!
Cayenne pepper or chili flakes, to make the pasta spicy!
Salt and pepper, for seasoning, of course.
Instructions
STEP ONE: Cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to package instructions (al-dente). Drain, toss with some olive oil to keep the pasta from sticking.
STEP TWO: Make the caramelized tomatoes. In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and garlic, allow the flavors to bloom for 1-2 minutes. Set the heat to medium-high and add in the cherry tomatoes, the oil will sizzle a lot so be careful because it’s hot and it can stain your clothes while you’re cooking!
Let the cherry tomatoes cook until jammy, about 5-6 minutes, season with salt and pepper, then add in the brown sugar sprinkling it in an even layer, mix, and allow to caramelize for 2-3 minutes over medium heat.
STEP THREE: Add the apple cider vinegar and use a wooden spoon to gently scrap up any caramelized bits of tomatoes around the pan then simmer for 2-3 minutes. Add a splash of water if the tomatoes are drying up.
STEP FOUR: Add the cooked pasta, toss, and serve with extra olive oil, pepper, and chili flakes (if desired). You can remove the garlic, if you prefer. You can also add some minced basil or grated Parmesan cheese but I like this pasta with just the caramelized tomatoes and cayenne. If you want to make it creamy, add a dollop of cream cheese, ricotta, or a splash of cream!
Storing and Reheating Instructions
This pasta is truly best eaten as it’s made but you can store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Reheat on the stovetop with a splash of olive oil.
What to pair caramelized cherry tomato pasta with
Protein: Simple but flavorful, this pasta goes well with grilled or roasted chicken, garlic butter shrimp, or salmon.
Salad: To cut the sweetness of the tomatoes, I recommend a crisp arugula salad or a salad of your choice!
Date night: If you want to turn this pasta into a fancy date night one, do a charcuterie board with burrata, salami, prosciutto, olives, and some fruit as an appetizer. A light red like Pinot Noir or a dry white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc would be delicious.
HAPPY COOKING!! I hope you'll love this Caramelized Cherry Tomato Pasta recipe as much as I do!
PS: Please leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ if you make it! Your comments make my day!! You can also tag me on Instagram @itsdamnspicy 🌈💘
More pasta recipes you’ll love:
Caramelized Cherry Tomato Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 oz (225 g) uncooked pasta (I recommend fettuccine, spaghetti, rigatoni, penne or fresh orecchiette)
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) high-quality extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (smashed or cut in half lengthwise)
- Salt and pepper (to taste, be generous with the black pepper)
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or chili flakes (or more to make it spicier)
- 1 tbsp (15 g) brown sugar
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- STEP ONE: Cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to package instructions (al-dente). Drain, toss with some olive oil to keep the pasta from sticking.
- STEP TWO: Make the caramelized tomatoes. In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and garlic, allow the flavors to bloom for 1-2 minutes. Set the heat to medium-high and add in the cherry tomatoes, the oil will sizzle a lot so be careful because it's hot and it can stain your clothes while you're cooking! Let the cherry tomatoes cook until jammy, about 5-6 minutes, season with salt, pepper and cayenne, then add in the brown sugar sprinkling it in an even layer, mix, and allow to caramelize for 2-3 minutes over medium heat.
- STEP THREE: Add the apple cider vinegar and use a wooden spoon to gently scrap up any caramelized bits of tomatoes around the pan then simmer for 2-3 minutes. Add a splash of water if the tomatoes are drying up.
- STEP FOUR: Add the cooked pasta, toss, and serve with extra olive oil, pepper, and chili flakes (if desired). You can remove the garlic, if you prefer. You can also add some minced basil or grated Parmesan cheese but I like this pasta with just the caramelized tomatoes and cayenne. If you want to make it creamy, add a dollop of cream cheese, ricotta, or a splash of cream!
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