Simple Angel Hair Pasta

Simple Angel Hair Pasta recipe has only 5 ingredients but feels like an Italian feast. Add your favorite protein or leave as is for a favorite vegetarian meal. This pasta recipe is so incredibly easy and fast. Put your water on to boil and then cut your tomatoes and garlic. By the time the tomatoes are just about simmered down the water should be at a full boil and the angel hair pasta will only take about 3 minutes to cook. The perfect weeknight dinner solution.

Course Dinner

Cuisine Italian/American

Keyword Angel Hair, Angel Hair Noodles, Angel Hair Pasta

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 12

Total Time 22

Servings servings

Calories 497kcal

Author Heather

Ingredients

1 lb angel hair pasta
2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
6-7 lg garlic cloves *thinly sliced
4 tsp basil
2 lbs tomatoes *diced
1/3- 1/2 cup pasta water
chopped Italian parsley to garnish *optional

Instructions

Put a large pot of water (approximately 5- 5 1/2 quarts of water) onto boil over high heat.
See Note #1 below for pasta cooking tips.
Meanwhile prepare tomatoes and garlic.
In a large frying pan heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic to oil. Cook until garlic becomes aromatic and just starts to brown on edges about 3 mins, stirring often.
Stir in basil and cook for an additional minute.
Stir in diced tomatoes and bring to a simmer over same heat. Cook until tomatoes dices are soft and just start to fall apart, about 8-10 mins.
Once water is boiling heavily salt the water. Add pasta and cook according to directions on package. Reserve 1/3- 1/2 cup pasta water. Add pasta and reserved pasta water to frying pan. Toss well.
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.

Notes

Recipe Notes

Note #1- Angel hair pasta cooks very quick, making it a perfect solution for busy weeknights. However, if you are new to cooking pasta to al dente, perfectly tender and yet slightly chewy, here are a few tips:

Use a Large Pot– Ensure you have a spacious pot to cook the pasta, allowing it enough room to expand and cook evenly.
Season the Water– Generously season the water with salt before bringing it to a rolling boil. This helps to flavor the pasta and enhance its taste.
Follow Package Instructions– Check the package instructions for the recommended cooking time. It is essential to cook the pasta until it is al dente, which means it is cooked through but still firm to the bite.
Use a Timer– Set a timer or use the clock to track the cooking time accurately.
Don’t Overcook– Pay attention to the cooking time and avoid overcooking the pasta, as it can become mushy and lose its desirable texture. You will know the pasta will be close to being done when the water starts to thicken.
Don’t Rinse Cooked Pasta– Avoid rinsing cooked pasta with water unless your recipe specifically calls for it. Rinsing can remove the starches that help sauces cling to the pasta.
Stir Occasionally– While the pasta is cooking, stir it occasionally to prevent sticking. This is particularly important during the first few minutes when the pasta tends to clump together.
Reserve Pasta Water– Before draining the cooked pasta, reserve a cup or more of the starchy cooking water which can be used to adjust the consistency of the sauce later if necessary.

Note #2- This pasta recipe is a wonderful vegan or vegetarian option. However, here are some fun recipe variation options:

Add Vegetables– Feel free to enhance this recipe by incorporating an assortment of vegetables. Consider adding bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, broccoli, spinach or zucchini to the mix.
Combine With Protein- For a heartier and more satisfying meal you can add sausage, chicken, shrimp, meatballs, tuna, or white beans to the recipe.
Toss In Cheese- Freshly grated cheese such as mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, ricotta, Gorgonzola, Asiago or parmesan can add flavor and richness to the dish.
Fire Up The Flavor– You can make it spicy by adding in red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.

Nutrition