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Fresh No-Cook Tomato Basil Sauce Recipe for Quick Easy Summer Pasta

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A bright and flavorful no-cook tomato basil sauce that is quick to prepare and perfect for summer pasta dishes. This fresh sauce uses ripe tomatoes, fragrant basil, and simple pantry staples for a vibrant, easy meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups (about 600g) ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped (vine-ripened or heirloom recommended)
  • 1 cup (about 25g) fresh basil leaves, torn or roughly chopped
  • 3 tablespoons (45ml) extra virgin olive oil, preferably fruity and cold-pressed
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) red wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice
  • Salt to taste (ideally sea salt)
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes for heat
  • Optional: freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese for serving
  • Optional: nutritional yeast for vegan cheese alternative

Instructions

  1. Wash tomatoes thoroughly and roughly chop into 1-inch chunks for a chunky texture or finely dice/pulse for a smoother sauce. (About 10 minutes)
  2. Peel and finely mince 2 cloves of garlic. Optionally rinse minced garlic under cold water to soften its bite. (2 minutes)
  3. Gently tear fresh basil leaves by hand to avoid browning. (2 minutes)
  4. In a mixing bowl, combine chopped tomatoes, minced garlic, and torn basil. Drizzle olive oil and red wine vinegar or lemon juice over the top. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. (3 minutes)
  5. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to gently fold ingredients together without mashing tomatoes or bruising basil. The sauce should look vibrant with juicy tomato chunks and bright green basil flecks. (2 minutes)
  6. Let the sauce rest at room temperature for at least 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld and tomatoes to release juices. (10 minutes)
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or vinegar/lemon juice if needed. (1 minute)
  8. Cook your favorite pasta until al dente, drain, and immediately toss with the fresh no-cook tomato basil sauce. Serve promptly for best flavor. (10-12 minutes for pasta cooking)

Notes

Use the freshest ripe tomatoes for best flavor and texture. Letting the sauce rest at room temperature for 10-15 minutes enhances flavor melding. Tear basil leaves by hand to avoid browning. Finely mince garlic for even flavor distribution; rinsing minced garlic can mellow its sharpness. Save some pasta water to loosen sauce if needed. Use a good quality fruity extra virgin olive oil for best taste. Store leftovers in airtight container in fridge up to 2 days or freeze up to 3 months (texture may change).

Nutrition

Keywords: no-cook tomato sauce, fresh tomato basil sauce, summer pasta sauce, easy pasta sauce, quick tomato sauce, no simmer tomato sauce, fresh basil sauce, healthy pasta sauce

Find it online: https://cheerycrisp.com/fresh-no-cook-tomato-basil-sauce-recipe-for-quick-easy-summer-pasta/