Bruschetta Pasta
Ingredients
- 4 medium roma tomatoes (can substitute with 1 can of diced tomatoes)
- 2 T fresh basil leaves, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 t sea salt, to taste
- 1/2 t freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 T olive oil
- 2 Hours Later:
- 150 g angel hair pasta
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, sliced
- 3 T tomato paste
- 1 T water
- parmesan cheese, for serving
- parsley, for serving
- meat of some sort, because we're omnivores
Method
Take the tomatoes, core them, dice them and place them in a bowl. Finely chop the basil leaves and place into the bowl. Put minced garlic, salt, pepper (adjust salt and pepper to taste), and 1 T olive oil into bowl. Mix very well and set aside for 2 hours.
2 hours later ...
Boil a large pot of water. Cook pasta according to box directions.
Suggestion for those who eat meat ... While the pasta is cooking, take chicken breasts and season with salt and pepper on both sides. Place on a grill (or indoor grill like the George Foreman grills) for about 4 minutes on each side, creating the dark grill lines on each side. Cook until chicken is fully cooked. Slice at a 45 degree angle and serve on top of the pasta.
Heat a large skillet. Once hot, add 1 T olive oil. Allow oil to heat about 20 seconds, then add the sliced garlic. Cook only about 45 seconds. DO NOT allow the garlic to brown (if it browns, toss it and start this bit over). Pour in the tomato mixture and mix well with garlic and oil. Stir, Stir, Stir. Add in tomato paste and water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat.
Drain pasta and add to the tomato sauce mixture. Toss to coat pasta.
Top the pasta with a little parmesan cheese and parsley, if desired.
Notes
13 July 2009: Tried this with tagliatelle, too much noodles/not enough sauce; lowered pasta called for. Good flavor, but not enough of it: upped basil and salt. The balsamic vinegar reduction didn't work right (maybe I did it wrong, but it came out foul-tasting, and stickier than toffee, so I took it out altogether. We had it tonight with old english sausage cooked and sliced and tossed in, worked out well - maybe get tomato basil sausage next time.