Naked Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

• 3 pound plum tomatoes
• 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 large clove garlic, thinly sliced
• pinch of red pepper flakes
• small handful basil leaves, most left whole, a few slivered for garnish
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 12 ounces (3/4 pound) dried spaghetti
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, or maybe two if nobody is looking