It's a dish so basic and simple. Pasta with sweet vine ripened cherry tomatoes and fresh basil is summertime comfort food. It is so easy to make that I am almost embarrassed to post the recipe, but sometimes the simplest and most obvious things go overlooked. I am here to remind you of how good it is. Made with a quinoa based pasta, it is also good for you and gluten-free.
Tomatoes are a good source of Vitamins A, C, K, folate and potassium. They are high is fiber, beta-carotene, and the antioxidant lycopene making them a powerhouse to enjoy. Combined with extra virgin olive oil (or another healthy oil), lycopene is a known fighter against pancreatic, prostate, breast, and colon cancers. Basil is not only flavorful, but good for you. It acts as a digestive aid, a protector from free radicals, and the oils derived from it are anti-inflammatory.
| Linguine with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil | |
| Serves 4 as a main course | |
| For all ingredients, please use that are organic or grown without pesticides. | |
| 16 ounces | Ancient Harvest gluten free linguine or your favorite |
| 2 1/2 pounds | sweet cherry tomatoes such as sweet 100?s, sun golds, or grape |
| 2 cloves | garlic, finely chopped |
| 2-4 tablespoons | extra virgin olive oil |
| 1/4 teaspoon | crushed red chili pepper |
| 1/4 cup | fresh basil, chiffonade |
| sea salt or finishing salt such as maldon or himalayan | |
| freshly ground black pepper | |
| toasted pine nuts or ground brazil nuts | |
| Bring a large stockpot of water to a boil for the pasta. | |
| Cut all of the tomatoes into halves. | |
| Cut the basil into a chiffanade. Roll a bunch of the leaves together like a cigar and thinly slice across the leaves leaving you with thin ribbons. | |
| Warm 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and the crushed red peppers. Lower the heat to prevent the garlic from burning. Allow to heat for only a minute or so. It will be just enough time for the flavors to infuse the oil. Add the tomatoes and stir to combine the flavors. | |
| Remove from heat until the water is boiling for the pasta to be cooked. | |
| Put the pasta into the water. If you are using the Ancient Harvest linguine, set a timer for 6 minutes. If you are using another pasta of your liking, set the timer for about 1 minute less than the package suggests. | |
| Return the garlic and tomatoes to medium high heat. They should soften and release their juices yet remain somewhat intact. | |
| Drain the finished pasta. Add to the tomatoes. Add the basil and another 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil. | |
| Serve with an additional sprinkling of basil. If you wish to add a tablespoon or so of toasted pine nuts or ground brazil nuts at the end, it will be a tasty addition. | |
| *Ground brazil nuts make a great plant-based substitute for parmesan cheese. It does not taste like parmesan, but has some similar characteristics. Although they are high in calories, brazil nuts are an excellent source of selenium, B complex vitamins, and magnesium. | |
