Recipe: Tomato Basil Angel Hair Pasta
Pictured: McGee & Co. tablecloth
I live for a good summer tomato — nothing beats the sweetness of a garden tomato. Also, I love all the fresh herbs, but especially basil this time of year. It is so uplifting and fresh. I guess it makes sense that the two go hand-in-hand, tomato and basil.
You know what else I crave this time of year? An ultra-fine pasta.
It’s nothing too novel—i.e., a tomato basil pasta—but it’s worth sharing this recipe I’ve been eating nonstop lately.
It’s uplifting, fresh, and light for the perfect summertime dinner meal. Highly recommend pairing with a slightly crisp Pinot, al-fresco style.
Enjoy!
INGREDIENTS
12 ounces of angel hair pasta
1/3 cup good olive oil
1 lemon, squeezed for juice
1 head of garlic, full cloves
1 pint cherry tomatoes (I love the rainbow cherry tomatoes)
2 loosely packed cups basil leafs, chopped
red pepper flakes
salt and pepper
DIRECTIONS
1. Start a large pot of water over medium heat (for the pasta). Allow that to warm up as you get out another sauce pan for the sauce.
2. In a separate sauce pan, add the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes, or until tender and fragrant. You can chop or mince the garlic, but I prefer to throw in the full cloves from the entire head of garlic.
3. Now, toss in your entire pint of cherry tomatoes and cover in the oil.
4. Squeeze the juice from one lemon and add that over the tomatoes with some salt and pepper. Cover the sauce pan and allow the tomatoes to soften (about 3-4 minutes).
5. By this point, your water should be boiling. Add the angel hair pasta and cook from 2-4 minutes (depending on your preferred softness of the noodles).
6. As the angel hair cooks, uncover the sauce pan to toss in your basil. Stir. Add in some red pepper flakes for a little heat to balance the fat (from the oil) and the acid (from the lemon and tomatoes). Allow that to marinate until the pasta is cooked, about 2 minutes or so.
7. Strain the pasta and rinse. Then add the pasta to the sauce pan with the tomato and basil mixture. Toss all this goodness together.
8. Add more red pepper, salt, and pepper to your liking.
9. Serve and enjoy!