Creamy Pesto & Burst Tomato Spaghetti

Recipe By: @fridasofiaeats

🍝 Fun Fact: That cloudy pasta water is liquid gold! Its starch helps turn cheese, pesto, and tomato juices into a glossy sauce that clings beautifully to every strand.

🎥 WATCH The Video

🛒 Ingredients

  1. 1 tbsp olive oil

  2. 24 oz cherry tomatoes

  3. Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

  4. 1 package (5.2 oz) Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs cheese

  5. 8 oz prepared basil pesto

  6. 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

  7. 8 oz spaghetti

  8. 1/2 cup reserved pasta cooking water

🔥 Step By Step

1️⃣ Get That Pasta Going
  1. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until al dente according to package directions. Before draining, reserve at least 1/2 cup of that starchy pasta water. Trust us, you'll need it.

2️⃣ Let Those Tomatoes Burst
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cherry tomatoes and season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover and continue cooking for about 10 minutes, until the tomatoes soften and begin to burst.

3️⃣ Build That Beautiful Sauce
  1. Using a wooden spoon, gently crush the softened tomatoes to release their sweet, concentrated juices. Lower the heat and stir in the Boursin cheese until it begins melting into the tomatoes. Add the basil pesto and grated Parmesan, stirring until everything comes together in one gloriously creamy sauce.

4️⃣ Bring It All Together
  1. Add the cooked spaghetti directly to the skillet, followed by a splash of reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously until the sauce becomes silky, glossy, and coats every strand. Add a little more pasta water as needed to loosen things up.

5️⃣ Finish Like A Chef
  1. Give everything one final toss and taste for seasoning. Twirl into warm bowls, finish with another generous shower of Parmesan, and serve immediately.

🍷 THEBACKLABEL CHEF'S NOTE

The secret isn't another ingredient. It's the pasta water! Add it gradually and keep tossing until the sauce turns glossy rather than heavy. And once the pesto goes in, keep the heat low to preserve its fresh basil flavor.

That's the difference between good pasta and where did you learn to cook like this? pasta.