Description
A vibrant and refreshing Summer Garden Pasta featuring marinated cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and Parmesan cheese tossed with perfectly cooked angel hair pasta. This dish captures the bright, fresh flavors of summer with a simple, no-cook tomato marinade and a quick stovetop pasta preparation, making it perfect for warm-weather meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade
- 4 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 18 large basil leaves, julienned, plus more for serving
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pasta
- 1 pound angel hair pasta
- 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Instructions
- Marinate the Tomatoes: In a large mixing bowl, combine the halved cherry tomatoes, olive oil, minced garlic, julienned basil leaves, crushed red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir well to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated. Cover the bowl and let the mixture sit at room temperature for 4 hours to allow the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Cook the Pasta: When ready to serve, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add a splash of olive oil to the water to help prevent sticking. Cook the angel hair pasta according to the package instructions until it is perfectly al dente, usually about 2 to 3 minutes for angel hair pasta.
- Drain the Pasta: Thoroughly drain the pasta to remove all water, ensuring it won’t dilute the flavor of the tomato marinade.
- Combine and Toss: Immediately add the drained pasta into the bowl with the marinated tomatoes. Sprinkle the freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the top, add a few extra fresh basil leaves, and toss everything together gently but thoroughly until the pasta is evenly coated with the flavorful tomato mixture and cheese.
- Serve Fresh: Serve the pasta warm right away for the best taste and texture. Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves to enhance the dish’s aroma and appearance. Enjoy this fresh and zesty summer meal!
Notes
- Marinating the tomatoes at room temperature for 4 hours deeply infuses the flavors—do not skip this step.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for maximum flavor.
- Add a splash of olive oil to the pasta cooking water to prevent noodles from sticking together.
- This dish is best served immediately for the freshest taste and texture.
- Angel hair pasta cooks very quickly, so watch carefully to avoid overcooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: summer pasta, cherry tomato pasta, fresh basil pasta, angel hair pasta recipe, quick summer dinner, vegetarian pasta
