The farmer's market is full of beautiful fresh herbs and vegetables; I love bringing them to the table in colorful dishes. So tonight, I am making one of my favorite summertime meals; pasta with roasted tomatoes and garlic, topped with basil, mint, and freshly shaved parmesan cheese.
Honestly, this is a delightful dish, easy to make and pleasing to the eye. I usually serve it alongside roasted chicken quarters and crusty french bread.
Ingredients:
25 to 30 Roma tomatoes
Freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 cup of fresh basil
1/2 cup of fresh mint
12 cloves of garlic (unpeeled)
Olive oil
One box of angel hair pasta
Step One:
Slice the tomatoes into quarters, from top to bottom, place in a 9 X 13 glass pan. Place 1/4 cup of olive oil into a measuring cup, add 12 cloves of garlic. Pour the mixture over the tomatoes and season with salt and red pepper flakes if desired.
Step Two:
Bake in a 400-degree oven for 30 minutes. Remove garlic from the pan and return the tomatoes to the oven for another 30 minutes.
Step Three:
Remove garlic from casings and chop. Slice the basil and mint leaves and add to the garlic, drizzle with olive oil and add a pinch of salt, set aside.
Step Four:
Cook the angel hair pasta for 4 minutes, or until desired firmness. Drain and place in large bowl.
Remove tomatoes from the oven and pour over cooked pasta. Add parmesan cheese and top with garlic and herb mixture.
Bon appetite!
Gigi Lori
"Italian food is all about the ingredients, and it's not fussy and it's not fancy" Wolfgang Puck