Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Summer Pasta With No-Cook Tomato Sauce


When fresh produce is perfectly ripe, I do not like to mess around with overly complicated recipes. This pasta dish is a perfect example. Just picked-from-the-garden tomatoes combined with fresh garlic, sweet onion and a handful of herbs. Of course I add dried red pepper flakes for some heat...this is the Red or Green? Blog after all.



I don't even cook this sauce. The heat from the hot pasta warms the vegetables and melts the cheese. Easy, quick, no-cook, delicious. Wonderful on scorching summer nights. Just do me a favor, do not even attempt this dish without sustainably grown, in-season produce and the best-quality-you-can-afford ingredients. A recipe this simple requires excellence from each item.  Enjoy!



Summer Pasta With No-Cook Tomato Sauce
(serves 6 as a main course)

2 lbs heirloom tomatoes, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup sweet onions, chopped
1/4 cup best quality extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon coconut sugar
pinch dried red pepper flakes
1/4 cup basil leaves (julienned)
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
sea salt
black pepper
8 oz fresh buffalo mozzarella, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 lb dried pasta (any shape you like)

Place first 7 ingredients in a large, non-metal, bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. 

Cook pasta according to package directions. When cooked, drain and add hot pasta to tomato mixture. Immediately stir in herbs and cheese. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Summer means easy, breezy dishes made from fresh, just-picked produce and this week at Food Network's Summer Soiree we are celebrating Summer TomatoesDo you have a favorite tomatoes recipe? Please share in the comments section of this post. And be sure to check out the delicious sounding recipes from my blogger friends and Food Network. 

The Heritage Cook: Rice and Cheese Stuffed Roasted Tomatoes (Gluten-Free)
The Lemon Bowl: 
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Beef & Eggplant
Homemade Delish: 
Sweet Tomato Jam
Healthy Eats: 
7 Seasonal Uses for Fresh Tomatoes
Creative Culinary: 
Warm Tomato and Mozzarella Bruschetta 
Weelicious: 
Heirloom Tomato Salad
Dishin & Dishes: 
Cobb Salad with Homemade Roasted Onion Vinaigrette
Domesticate Me: 
10 Totally Awesome Tomato Recipes
Swing Eats: 
Tiny Insalata Caprese
The Wimpy Vegetarian: 
Tomato and Swiss Tart
Elephants and the Coconut Trees: 
Tomato Pickle
Taste with the Eyes: 
Quiche with a Black Quinoa Crust, Heirloom Tomatoes, Spinach, Goat Cheese
Red or Green: 
Summer Pasta With No-Cook Tomato Sauce
Napa Farmhouse 1885: 
Heirloom Tomato & Crouton Casserole (Scalloped Tomatoes)
The Mom 100: 
Chopped Salad with Chicken, Tomatoes and Lemon Thyme Dressing
FN Dish: 
10 Ways to Be a Tomato Whisperer

best,
diane

I have started sharing my newest blog "California Girl in Taos."  Please visit and let me know what you think.

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