This is a great pasta recipe for the summer months. Not heavy or hearty, my family looks for light dishes to sweep across their place mat come dinnertime this time of year and I wholeheartedly agree. Not a fan of what most “comfort dishes” do to my waistline, I celebrate the lighter fare of warmer weather. Besides, as a gardener, I’m always looking for ways to incorporate my garden harvest into the menu.
Voilá! This Simple Summer Pasta Recipe is the answer to my dreams! Tomatoes, sweet onions, garlic, basil and olive oil plus a spattering of Parmesan and you’re off to the races. My husband needs the added spices of salt and pepper while I find the garlic and veggies sufficient to pleasure my taste buds. It’s easy to make, too.
Simple Summer Pasta
2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced (I LOVE garlic!)
6-8 basil leaves, chopped
3 TBSP olive oil
1/2 box spaghetti
Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, to taste
Cook pasta according to directions, adding 1 TBSP olive oil to the water. We prefer ours al dente, which means I cook the pasta about a minute or so less than standard instructions. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid. Place pasta back into pan and set aside. Heat 2 TBSP oil in a skillet and sauté the onions for about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and garlic, cooking until just heated, or about 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in basil.
Add some of reserved pasta cooking liquid to pasta, stirring to soften the spaghetti. Serve spaghetti in a bowl, top with tomato mixture and flavor to your taste with Parmesan, salt and pepper.
Great options include topping the dish with sautéed shrimp. You can sauté them in about 3-4 minutes using the same pan you cooked the tomatoes and onions, only you’ll need to add a bit more olive oil to keep them from sticking.
Serves 2-3
- 2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
- ½ sweet onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 6-8 basil leaves, chopped
- 3 TBSP olive oil
- ½ box spaghetti
- Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper, to taste
- Cook pasta according to directions, adding 1 TBSP olive oil to the water.
- Drain pasta, reserving ½ cup pasta cooking liquid.
- Place pasta back into pan and set aside.
- Heat 2 TBSP oil in a skillet and sauté the onions for about 2 minutes.
- Add tomatoes and garlic, cooking until just heated, or about 1-2 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- Mix in basil.
- Add some of reserved pasta cooking liquid to pasta, stirring to soften the spaghetti.
- Serve spaghetti in a bowl, top with tomato mixture and flavor to your taste with Parmesan, salt, and pepper.
