The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement
Good Food logo

Adam Liaw’s quick buttered tomato spaghetti

Adam Liaw

Advertisement
Quick buttered tomato spaghetti.William Meppem

I truly believe simplicity is the key to great pasta, and this buttery tomato spaghetti is ready in the time it takes the pasta to cook.

Advertisement

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil

  • 1 onion, grated

  • 4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped

  • 400g canned cherry tomatoes

  • 500g spaghetti

  • 40g butter

  • ½ cup loosely packed basil leaves, to serve

  • freshly ground pepper, to season

  • freshly grated parmesan, to serve

Method

  1. Step 1

    Heat a small saucepan over medium heat and add the oil, then add the onion and garlic. Fry the onion and garlic for 2-3 minutes, then add the cherry tomatoes and roughly crush them with a wooden spoon. Cover the saucepan and simmer for 5-10 minutes.

  2. Step 2

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook according to the packet directions, but start to check 3-4 minutes before the recommended cooking time printed on the packet. The pasta will be ready while still quite firm, as you want to finish cooking it in the sauce.

  3. Step 3

    Drain the pasta, reserving about ½ a cup of the water it’s cooked in. Combine the pasta, sauce, butter and pasta water together, season with a little salt and stir until it thickens to form a sauce that coats the pasta. Stir the basil leaves through, then transfer to a serving plate, sprinkle with plenty of black pepper and parmesan, and serve.

Adam’s tip: Combining your pasta with the sauce before the pasta’s fully cooked allows the pasta to better absorb the flavours of the sauce.

The best recipes from Australia's leading chefs straight to your inbox.

Sign up

Continue this edition

The October 5 Edition
Up next
Penne with grilled greens.
EASY

Adam Liaw’s penne with grilled greens

If you have a barbecue near your kitchen, I recommend grilling the greens on that – one less pan to wash!

SL 28/24 horoscope illo

Libra: Don’t be afraid of conflict

Free weekly forecast in life, love and career from renowned astrologer, Hedy Damari.

Previously

The home accessory colour that’s not only in fashion, but is also calming

Borrowed from nature, green – from jade to emerald and all shades in between – is a calming and life-affirming hue.

See all stories
Adam LiawAdam Liaw is a cookbook author and food writer, co-host of Good Food Kitchen and former MasterChef winner.

From our partners

Advertisement
Advertisement

Similar Recipes

More by Adam Liaw