7.10.2012

Summer Pasta


We've never been pasta eaters in my family. I have a great old spaghetti sauce recipe I used to make for a crowd and, of course, mac and cheese when the kids were small, but these days I rarely make pasta dishes. My mother didn't either...mac and cheese, but that's it. 
I don't know about my boys any more, but I know my daughter doesn't eat pasta much (if at all) either. 

So normally, I wouldn't jump right in and make Ina's Garden Pasta, but I was intrigued with the way she "marinated" the tomatoes and wanted to see how they turned out. Another thing I liked about this recipe was I had all the ingredients needed without a trip to the store. Always a plus. 

The sweetness of the tomatoes shines through in this dish; I thought it was delicious. Here's a pasta dish that you can adapt for just one person. Or two.

Summer Garden Pasta

2006, Barefoot Contessa at Home



Ingredients:

4 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
Good olive oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)
18 large basil leaves, julienned, plus extra for serving
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound dried angel hair pasta
1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

Method:

Combine the cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup olive oil, garlic, basil leaves, red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt, and the pepper in a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and set aside at room temperature for about 4 hours.
Just before you're ready to serve, bring a large pot of water with a splash of olive oil and 2 tablespoons salt to a boil and add the pasta. Cook al dente according to the directions on the package (be careful - it only takes 2 to 3 minutes!). Drain the pasta well and add to the bowl with the cherry tomatoes. Add the cheese and some extra fresh basil leaves and toss well. Serve in big bowls with extra cheese on each serving. Serves six.

41 comments:

  1. Couldn't be simpler. I like pasta, especially capellini these days because I can make something in less than 15 minutes when I'm in a rush. This is a perfect recipe for those times with only a little advance planning. Ina is so darn smart.

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  2. Couldn't be simpler. I like pasta, especially capellini these days because I can make something in less than 15 minutes when I'm in a rush. This is a perfect recipe for those times with only a little advance planning. Ina is so darn smart.

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  3. We don't eat a lot of pasta these days either, but I would definitely like a nice big bowl of your garden pasta. Looks delicious!

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  4. That is one of my favorite pasta sauces! So fresh and summery.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  5. Okay... I just RSVP'd to eat dinner with the provisional committee, but TOMORROW. I'm totally making that tomorrow for supper.

    (And really!? How do you not eat pasta?! I crave it, usually more than a steak!)

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  6. I'm really liking the taste of basil added to any dish. Especially when combined with tomatoes. This sounds lovely. It's something I would serve when my husband's in town, as I'm not too big on pasta either, but he is.

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  7. Oh but what a perfect pasta dish for summer...Simply prepared and flavorful.

    Velva

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  8. I love the way Ina marinated the tomatoes too. I will be giving this a try soon. So simple and I'm sure it is tasty too.

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  9. Ooops! I got so wrapped up in copying the marinade recipe that I forgot to comment. The Baker is doing a similar dish for our dinner and I want to suggest that he marinate the tomatoes. Yummy!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  10. This is one of our favorite meals:)

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  11. We love pasta at our house so your dish is really calling to me! Plus it looks so pretty and is a perfect summer meal with all the tomatoes.

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  12. It sounds lovely and fresh. You really must enter it into this month's No Croutons Required The theme is summer soups or salads and this has the making of an excellent pasta salad.

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  13. This is a nice technique, it's almost as if the process of marinating, creates the tomato sauce with the natural juices.

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  14. We eat a lot of pasta here! My husband is a vegetarian and this kind of pasta recipes are great for him!

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  15. I eat an embarrassing amount of pasta. I must eat your share for you! This is a great dish for summer. The cherry tomatoes sound fantastic.

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  16. Hi, I love this, so simple and delicious. It's a recipe I would love to try sometime.

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  17. I've often made this sort of sugo crudo, but somehow it's fallen out of the repertoire! Thanks for the reminder.

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  18. I just made something very similar to this a couple nights ago. Great combination, summer vegetables and angel hair.

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  19. I missed my pasta. Haven't had it for ages. Yours looks really inviting.
    Hope you're having a lovely day, Barbara.
    Kristy

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  20. Make sure you use the "good" olive oil ;)

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  21. On the contrary my son and husband are huge pasta lovers so I am sure this dish would be perfect for them and for me!

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  22. Oh Barbara,

    There is NOTHING LIKE summer pasta, out on the deck, with freshly made BASIL and walnut pesto!!!!

    DEAREST,you are a former diver? AND NOW A SNORKLER???? How splendid. There is a peace underwater that allows you to plunge below the troubles up above, for a while!

    Oh how wonderful of you to come by! I hope your summer is going well. We are preparing for some guests arriving next week and it has been a beautiful summer, indeed.

    ENJOY YOURSELF! Anita

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  23. I am new around your blog :) and I love it..
    I am your new happy follower :D You are welcome to visit my humble blog :D
    xxx
    http://abudhabifood.blogspot.com

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  24. This is one of our favorite summer pastas. Light and flavorful.
    Mimi

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  25. This is similar to the pasta dish, I make for lunch, when I want something that is not time consuming but is delicious.

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  26. Susan, this pasta looks perfect for Summer, light and fresh. Love it!
    Hope you are enjoying your week :)

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  27. Sorry, I mean Barbara...

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  28. We live on pasta - have it at least twice a week. That looks fabulous! I'm totally hitting the farmers market for tomatoes and basil this weekend and fixing that with something grilled - maybe some fish. I might be drooling on my keyboard. g

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  29. nice and easy will try this with my cherry tomatoes

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  30. Looks very fresh and summery.

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  31. where's the rhubarb? :)
    i don't eat a lot of pasta either, but when i do, i love angel hair and a simple sauce. this looks great!

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  32. This is going to be for when summer rolls around here and the tomatoes look ruby red and sweet! What an interesting method with the tomatoes too!

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  33. Love summer pasta. This looks great!

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  34. I used to be a pasta and bread freak...but ever since moving to South Texas, I'm totally anti-starch. Except potatoes. I love potatoes. Ben loves pasta though--I usually make a big batch and he eats off it all week!

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  35. Love it! I'm a huge pasta fan, especially in the summertime when it's so easy to throw in fresh veggies like tomatoes. Yum! I'll be stealing this recipe for sure :)

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  36. This pasta is so light and delicious with great flavours so perfect indeed for summer :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  37. this is one of my favorite summer pastas---the bright flavors of garden-sweet tomatoes are front and center in this dish. The tomatoes in our garden survived the brutal heat wave, and are ripening beautifully. Tomato time is here!

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  38. We've always been pasta eaters and this type of dish with fresh tomatoes is one of our favorites. It's perfect for hot summer weather, but we enjoy it all year long. I chop a variety of tomatoes with garlic, shallots, squeeze lemon juice and add basil oil allowing it to sit at least 15 minutes before salting. Then add fresh grated Parm and slivered fresh basil before tossing with pasta. So good! Wish I had a bowl right now :)

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  39. I was appalled to read that you and yours are not pasta eaters. I adore the stuff and don't know where I'd be without it. Well to each his or her own.

    This is a lovely way to make pasta but only works in summer with the freshest tomatoes. I like it with heirloom cherry tomatoes in several colors. We sometimes add kalamata olives too, to give the dish a sort of rich chocolatey flavor.

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  40. My cherry tomatoes are ripening as I type ;) I can't wait to make fresh pasta dishes like this soon. There's nothing better than picking your own tomatoes, snipping some of your own basil and creating something so wonderful like this.

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  41. this is a nice and simple summer pasta.I am like your blog and I am your new follower. Check out my summer pasta salad !! http://skinnysimplerecipes.blogspot.ca/2012/07/summer-pasta-with-zucchini-colourful.html

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