This simple pasta dish is perfect for summer. Using produce that's in season, this roasted and blended sauce with pasta makes the oven do all the work. Tomatoes, garlic, and shallot are combined to make a dish packed with flavor. Topped with creamy burrata and basil, this is a great garden-fed weeknight dish!
1smallchili hot pepper (or ¼ tsp red pepper flakes)
1sprigfresh rosemary
2sprigsfresh thyme
2tbspolive oil
1tspkosher salt
1tbspunsalted butter
¾cuppasta water
1lbpenne pasta
18 oz ballburrata cheese
10leavesbasil
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Place the washed and dried tomatoes on a large baking sheet. Add the garlic cloves, whole shallots, chili pepper (if using), rosemary, and thyme. Drizzle with the olive oil, making sure to coat everything. Sprinkle with the kosher salt and place in the preheated oven. Roast until the tomatoes and shallot are burst, turning brown and softened, 20-25 minutes.
1 ½ lb cherry tomatoes, 5 cloves garlic, 3 medium shallots, 1 small chili hot pepper (or ¼ tsp red pepper flakes), 1 sprig fresh rosemary, 2 sprigs fresh thyme, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp kosher salt
During the last few minutes of the tomatoes roasting, make the pasta according to the instructions for al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving ¾ cup of the pasta water, and set it aside while finishing the sauce.
1 lb penne pasta
Remove the tomatoes from the oven. Discard the rosemary and thyme sprigs. Pour the remaining contents of the baking pan into the stockpot used to cook the pasta. Add the butter. Using an immersion blender, purée the mixture into a sauce. The sauce can also be made in a canister blender. If the sauce seems too thick, add ¼ to ½ cup of pasta water to thin it out to the desired consistency.
1 tbsp unsalted butter, ¾ cup pasta water
Place the pasta sauce over low heat and pour the prepared pasta into the sauce to warm everything through, 2-3 minutes.
To serve the pasta, pour the pasta onto a large platter. Place the burrata cheese in the middle. Tear the fresh basil on top of the pasta. While serving, break the cheese with the serving spoon and mix it with the pasta.
10 leaves basil, 1 8 oz ball burrata cheese
Video
Notes
Customize the level of spice to fit your taste. Add in additional peppers or red pepper flakes to give it more of a kick, or leave it out entirely to reduce the heat. You can also remove the seeds and pith of any pepper to reduce the heat level.For ease, keep the skin on the shallots while they roast in the oven. Leaving the skins on will add color and a deeper flavor. Simply remove and discard the skin after they roast in the oven.Make sure to save some of the pasta water from cooking the pasta. Starch from the pasta stays in the water and helps the sauce bind to the noodles. It also works to create a better texture for the overall sauce.