Roasted Bruschetta Pasta

Ingredients

• 14 oz pasta (choice of shape)
• 1.3 lb sweet cherry tomatoes (mixed colors recommended)
• 2.5 garlic (cloves)
• extra virgin olive oil (generous drizzle for roasting)
• 1 tsp sugar
• salt (for roasting and pasta water)
• fresh thyme (a few sprigs)
• 1.5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (for the sauce)
• 2.5 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp oregano
• black pepper (to taste)
• chili flakes (to taste)
• fresh basil (lots, torn)
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
• pasta water (reserved from boiling)
• 1 Burrata (to serve)
• pine nuts (toasted, for serving)
• fresh basil leaves (for garnish)
• balsamic glaze (for drizzling)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) fan setting.

2. 2

   Add cherry tomatoes, garlic cloves, a generous drizzle of olive oil, 1 tsp sugar, fresh thyme sprigs, salt, and pepper to a roasting tray.

3. 3

   Roast for 35–45 minutes until the tomatoes are soft, jammy, and caramelized. For better flavor, you can roast them longer at a lower heat if time permits.

4. 4

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until it reaches al dente texture.

5. 5

   Reserve a cup of the starchy pasta water before draining the pasta.

6. 6

   In a large pan, heat 1-2 tbsp olive oil and 2-3 tbsp butter over medium heat.

7. 7

   Remove the roasted garlic from their skins, squeeze them into the pan, and mash them into the oil and butter mixture.

8. 8

   Add the roasted tomatoes along with all the juices from the roasting tray into the pan.

9. 9

   Add 1 tsp oregano, chili flakes, salt, pepper, 1 cup of grated Parmesan, a splash of pasta water, and the cooked pasta to the pan.

10. 10

    Toss everything together over heat until the sauce is rich and silky, adding more pasta water if needed to reach the desired consistency.

11. 11

    Stir in a large amount of torn fresh basil just before serving.

12. 12

    Plate the pasta and top with fresh burrata, toasted pine nuts, additional fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

Notes

This pasta is excellent on its own but also pairs well with grilled chicken, steak, or fish. The author notes that roasting the tomatoes longer at a lower temperature yields even better flavor.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• vegetarian
• pasta
• summer
• roasted
• dinner