With summer in full swing, I wanted to share one of my favorite warm-weather recipes. This flavorful pasta recipe, featuring penne, fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil, shaved Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, is so quick and easy to throw together, it’s a dish you’ll enjoy all summer long.
Perfect for al fresco dining, you can serve this as a main dish hot or cold, for lunch or dinner — perhaps with grilled chicken, a loaf of crusty bread, and a glass of wine. What could be easier — or more wonderful — on a warm summer evening?
bowl // gold utensils // cutting board // napkin
Fresh Summer Pasta with Basil, Tomato, and Shaved Parmesan
Ingredients:
12 ounces fresh or dried penne, mostaccioli or rigatoni pasta
1 1/2 pounds ripe fresh tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
3/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese or pecorino Romano cheese (I buy pre-shaved cheese to save time). Feta or Manchego cheese also works great in this dish.
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste (I use 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper)
Directions:
1. In a 5-quart pan over high heat, bring 2 quarts water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to the package instructions until tender, stirring occasionally. Drain, but do not rinse.
2. Meanwhile, core, seed, and chop the tomatoes (I use one of these to make the job easier).
3. In a large bowl, mix tomatoes, basil, 1/2 cup cheese, garlic, olive oil, and salt and pepper.
4. Add hot cooked pasta to the bowl and mix well.
5. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. You can also top with crushed red pepper, if desired.
Note: If you prefer to eat this dish chilled, simply place it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before serving.
Enjoy! xo Jane
Looking for more great recipe and entertaining ideas? Here are a few more recipes from the blog:
Crustless Mini Quiche with Spinach and Bacon
Homemade Zuppa Toscana (the Best!)
Oat Flour Crepes (Gluten Free)
Stacked Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
Chocolate Mousse with Ricotta Cheese
Perfect Crispy Oven Roasted Potatoes
Homemade Pasta e Fagioli Soup (Italian Chili)
Invite Someone Over! How to Host a Casual Dinner Party in 10 Easy Steps
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Easy, Breezy Summer Home Decorating Ideas - Imagine Great Living
August 23, 2016 at 12:43 pm[…] Don’t forget to beautify your summer dining! By adding a few touches of nature to your table–outdoors or in–you can easily take your dining experience from ho hum to hooray! p.s. Here’s the recipe for the pasta dish shown above: Fresh Summer Pasta with Basil, Tomato, and Shaved Parmesan. […]