Tomato Garlic Butter Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes and Oyster Sauce Recipe
This Tomato Garlic Butter Pasta is a flavorful, quick, and easy dish combining the richness of butter and garlic with the sweetness of cherry tomatoes and a touch of heat from chili flakes. Enhanced by soy and oyster sauces for a subtle umami depth, it’s tossed with perfectly cooked pasta and finished with parmesan, spring onions, and a drizzle of olive oil for an irresistible, glossy finish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired fusion
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
- 75g (2.5 oz) unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 tsp chili flakes, plus extra to serve
- 200g (7 oz) cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
Pasta
- 200g (7 oz) dried fettuccine, linguine, or spaghetti or 400g (14 oz) fresh pasta
To Serve
- Finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp finely sliced spring onions (scallions)
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: Heat a large deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, butter, garlic, and chili flakes and cook, stirring, for one minute until fragrant. Add the quartered cherry tomatoes and continue cooking, stirring, until the butter is melted and tomatoes soften slightly. Ensure the garlic softens without browning. Stir in the soy sauce and oyster sauce, simmer for one minute to infuse flavors, then remove from heat and set aside.
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rapid boil. Add your chosen pasta and cook until al dente—follow package instructions for dried pasta or cook fresh pasta for 2-3 minutes. Do not overcook to maintain pasta texture.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Reserve one cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta. Return the sauce to the heat and add the cooked pasta directly into the frying pan. Pour in a couple of tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. Stir and cook for 3-4 minutes, allowing the pasta to absorb the liquid and the sauce to thicken into a glossy coating.
- Serve: Plate the pasta and generously top with finely grated parmesan, a drizzle of olive oil, sliced spring onions, and a sprinkle of extra chili flakes for heat. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Using fresh pasta will reduce cooking time and provide a tender texture.
- Adjust chili flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Reserve pasta water is key for creating a smooth, glossy sauce that clings perfectly to the pasta.
- For a vegan version, omit butter and parmesan and substitute with vegan alternatives.
- Adding a splash of pasta water gradually helps achieve the ideal sauce consistency without making it watery.
Keywords: Tomato Garlic Butter Pasta, easy pasta recipe, quick pasta dinner, cherry tomato pasta, garlic butter sauce, umami pasta, weeknight dinner
