Fragrant Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes, Garlic and Basil

Turn garlic into flavorful paste: crush and peel the cloves, place in a mortar with a teaspoon of salt, and grind thoroughly. Mix this garlic base with red wine vinegar to create a rich flavor base.

Prepare the tomatoes and basil to add freshness to the dish: cut the cherry tomatoes into medium-sized pieces. Remove the stems from the basil, and tear the leaves into small pieces by hand so that the aroma is better released.

Create the aroma: pour the chopped tomatoes with the garlic-vinegar mixture, add half of the torn basil, pepper, and mix gently. Add a little more salt if needed. Leave to marinate while the pasta is cooking so that the flavors blend perfectly.

Cook pasta to perfection: in a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the <a href=" target="_blank">pasta</a>, stirring occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Before draining the pasta, reserve about half a cup of the pasta water – you'll need it for the sauce.

Combine and enjoy: return the cooked pasta to the pot, add the marinated tomatoes with basil along with the released juice. Drizzle everything with olive oil and mix thoroughly. For a more delicate sauce consistency, add some of the water left over from cooking the pasta. Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining fresh basil and freshly ground black pepper for extra flavor.