Pasta with Cheese and Tomatoes
Bright, aromatic, fast, and delicious - made from everyday ingredients! Pasta with cheese and tomatoes is the simplest way to cook a beloved Italian dish. It requires just a few inexpensive and accessible ingredients. The pasta is ready in only 20 minutes - perfect for a quick dinner!
Updated : 06 August, 2025
Easy
About 20 min.
Ingredients
250 grams
Pasta
2
Tomato
1
Onion
2
Garlic
50 grams
Hard cheese
2 tablespoon
Vegetable oil
to taste
Basil
to taste
Ground black pepper
to taste
Salt
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
Choose good-quality pasta made from durum wheat - they hold shape better and are tastier and healthier. Use any shape or size you like. Choose large, meaty tomatoes. Wash and dry all vegetables and herbs.
Step 2
Peel the onion and chop it however you prefer - in cubes, half-rings, or quarter-rings. The chopping style doesn’t matter for this recipe.
Step 3
Peel the garlic and slice it into thin pieces.
Step 4
Remove the skins from the tomatoes. How? Wash them and make shallow cross-cuts on top. Pour boiling water over them for 1-2 minutes, then transfer to a bowl with cold water. The skin will peel off easily due to the temperature contrast.
Step 5
Cut the peeled tomatoes into large chunks.
Step 6
Remove basil leaves from the stems and chop them finely. You can substitute basil with parsley. Avoid using dill or cilantro.
Step 7
Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Pour in some vegetable oil. Add chopped onion and garlic. Sauté for a few minutes until translucent. At the same time, place a pot of water on the stove for the pasta.
Step 8
Add tomatoes, basil, and garlic to the skillet. Season with salt, pepper, and herbs. Italian herb blends work great here.
Step 9
Cook the vegetables, stirring, for a few minutes. Meanwhile, add pasta to boiling water, salt it, and cook it according to package instructions.
Step 10
Cover the skillet with a lid, reduce heat to low, and let the sauce simmer for 7–10 minutes.
Step 11
Drain the pasta. For authentic Italian pasta, cook it al dente - it should be slightly firm to the bite. Add the pasta to the skillet with the sauce.
Step 12
Gently mix, cover with a lid again, and let stand over low heat for a couple more minutes.
Step 13
Serve the pasta on plates. Before serving, sprinkle with finely grated hard cheese. Enjoy!