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Pasta With Cherry Tomatoes and Herbed Ricotta

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The summer is beginning to wind down, and although I will be sorry to see it go, I’m thoroughly enjoying my bounty of end-of-summer tomatoes. This time of year, tomatoes are at their peak, equally delicious raw, cooked, or lightly touched by heat, as they are in this recipe.

This is one of those quick and easy pasta dishes that can be completed from start to finish in under twenty minutes if you have everything on hand, making it a great option for a busy weeknight meal. Once you set the pasta water on to boil, you simply fry up some garlic in a little olive oil, add a touch of chili pepper, salt, and pepper.

Add those halved cherry tomatoes into the pot and cook just a few minutes, until the tomatoes begin to soften, stir in some chopped basil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, and the sauce is complete.

This is the sort of past dish that I think exemplifies the principles of Italian cuisine—it truly couldn’t be simpler, but by using the very best, freshest ingredients, you can create an amazing dish in a matter of minutes. The tomatoes need to be very ripe, the basil and garlic fresh, and for this recipe it really does pay to use high-quality olive oil.

This time of year, I always have a big bowl full of sweet cherry tomatoes sitting in my window because I prefer them to be as ripe as possible before I use them in any of my recipes. For this recipe, I prefer round cherry tomatoes, not the smaller grape tomatoes whose skins are firmer and more resistant to heat.

I like to add a dollop of creamy herbed ricotta cheese to the dish just before serving, but it’s by no means obligatory. I’m very lucky here in Umbria to have sheep’s milk ricotta cheese readily available, but any top quality ricotta cheese will do. Look for one with nothing but milk, salt, and a starter or acid in the ingredients (avoid those with gums or stabilizers)—our favorite brand is Calabro.

A long strand pasta, such as spaghetti, works best for this recipe, but penne or fusilli will do in a pinch. Dried pasta is a better bet than fresh egg pasta, which tends to soak up the light sauce and leave the overall dish on the dry side. If you do choose to use fresh pasta, make sure to reserve a little of the pasta water to loosen the sauce a bit before you toss it with the cooked pasta.

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farrotompasta1Shown with Farro Penne Rigate Pasta

Buon Appetito!
Deborah Mele 

Pasta With Cherry Tomatoes and Herbed Ricotta

Pasta With Cherry Tomatoes and Herbed Ricotta

Yield: Serves 4 to 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Pound Dried Pasta
  • 1/4 Cup Plus 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 3 Medium Cloves of Garlic, Minced (About 1 Tablespoon)
  • 1/2 to 1 Chili Pepper Such as Serrano or Thai, Finely Minced (optional)
  • 2 Pints Very Ripe Cherry Tomatoes, Cut in Half
  • Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
  • 6 Tablespoons Finely Chopped Fresh Basil leaves, Divided
  • 1 Teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar
  • 1 Cup Ricotta Cheese
  • 1/4 Cup Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese

Instructions

  1. Place a large pot of salted water on to boil.
  2. In a small pot, heat the 1/4 cup of olive oil until lightly smoking over medium heat, then drop in the garlic and chili pepper if using.
  3. Cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  4. Add the tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and continue to cook, stirring often, just until the tomatoes begin to soften, about 4 minutes.
  5. Remove from the heat, stir in 4 tablespoons of the chopped basil and the balsamic vinegar, then set aside.
  6. In a small bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, remaining tablespoon of olive oil, 2 tablespoons chopped basil, and the pecorino cheese.
  7. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
  8. Cook the pasta following manufacturer's direction until it is al dente.
  9. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water and return the pasta to the pot along with the tomato mixture.
  10. Toss to mix well, adding pasta water as necessary to adjust consistency, then serve the pasta in individual bowls topped with a large spoonful of the herbed ricotta cheese on each.

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