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1
Fill your largest stockpot with water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add a good handful (~2 tablespoons) of kosher salt and let return to a boil. Do not add the pasta yet.
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2
In your largest skillet, heat 6 tablespoons of olive oil over medium until shimmering. Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, give them a stir, then add the red pepper flakes and season moderately with salt. Stir to combine. Let the mixture cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes begin to soften. Using a wooden spoon, gently press on the tomatoes until they pop and release their juices (do not force this, if some are not ready, let them cook a few more minutes).
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3
When the sauce has reached this point, add the pasta to the salted, boiling water. You must drain the pasta when it is 2 minutes before al dente, so test often, and drain when the pasta has a moderate bite to it (follow the directions on the pasta box - if it says al dente at 8 minutes, remove it around 6). After the pasta has reached the half-way point of its cooking time, use a measuring cup to remove 2 cups of pasta water from the pot. Set this aside for now.
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4
Continue popping the tomatoes until all have burst. Then, use the spoon to break down the tomatoes even further (the sauce should have visible texture, but the tomatoes should be quite soft). Once the sauce begins to look relatively homogeneous, add 3/4 cup of the reserved pasta water to the sauce and stir to combine. Let return to a simmer and add the cream one tablespoon at a time. Let return to a simmer and add 2 - 3 tablespoons of Parmesan. Again, stir well to combine and let the sauce return to a simmer. Keep sauce warm over medium low heat until the pasta has been drained.
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5
Drain the pasta and immediately add it to the pan with the sauce along with the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil. Using tongs, toss well to combine. Increase the heat to high and continue to toss the pasta until the sauce is considerably reduced and all of the pasta is coated in sauce (a few minutes). Turn the heat to low.
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6
Once the pan has cooled a bit, add 3/4 cup of Parmesan and toss to coat. Add half of the basil and toss again. Add a 1/2 cup of Parmesan and toss. Finally, add the remaining basil and a sprinkle of salt (flaky salt if you have it) and toss briefly. Taste - add more Parmesan if desired. If the sauce is clumpy or too tight, add a bit of the pasta water to loosen it up. Serve in large bowls with additional Parmesan (yes, more cheese!) Enjoy!
