Summer Pasta with Basil, Tomatoes and Cheese

SUBMITTED BY: Gayle Wagner PHOTO BY: Joe and Jill

"At the peak of summer tomato harvest, it doesn't get any better than this!"

PREP TIME	20 Min
COOK TIME	10 Min
READY IN	2 Hrs 30 Min

SERVINGS & SCALING

Original recipe yield: 4 - 6 servings

USMETRIC

About scaling and conversions

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds vine ripened tomatoes, seeded and diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup cream sherry
12 ounces spaghetti
1/2 cup freshly grated Asiago cheese
2 cups fontina cheese, shredded

READ REVIEWS (17)

DIRECTIONS

In a medium bowl, toss together tomatoes, garlic, basil, mint, salt and black pepper, hot pepper flakes, olive oil, and cream sherry. Let stand at room temperature for up to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Cook the pasta In a large pot of boiling salted water until tender, but firm to the bite.
Drain the pasta, and transfer to a large serving bowl. Drain 1/4 cup of the liquid from the tomato mixture, and toss with the pasta to coat. Add cheese, and toss until it begins to melt. Add the tomato mixture, and toss until mixed.

ADVERTISE WITH US

REVIEWS

MORE MEMBER REVIEWS

Reviewed on Apr. 11, 2006 by Joe and Jill

This is our household favorite pasta dish! I always make it for guests, and everyone always wants the recipe. I read the other reviews, and don't let the cheese melting problem some people mention deter you from trying this delicious recipe. TIPS FOR GETTING THE CHEESE TO MELT: 1. Add cheese to pasta as soon as pasta is drained. 2. Use a stainless steel bowl when mixing the cheese with the pasta so the heat from the cooked pasta will be retained, aiding in a quicker melting process. 3. Use two forks and go back and forth in opposite directions right after adding the cheese. This helps to distribute the cheese more evenly.

5 users found this review helpful

Reviewed on Jun. 27, 2005 by ALBIANNE

I didn't have any fresh tomato's or basil, so I used 2 cans of the new Aylmers tomato's with olive oil and garlic and I used a TBSP of McCormicks Basil in a tube,otherwise followed the recipe as printed, the taste was wonderful. I did not drain the canned tomato's but allowed the pasta to absorb the excess juice before I served it. I also did not like the look of the cheese and found it made clean-up more difficult (the cheese really coated the forks etc), next time I am going to skip adding the cheese and just serve the pasta with a shaker of parmesan so that everyone can add their own at the table, also will have a shaker with red pepper flakes so that the teenagers can spice it up as much as they like. I think the parmesan will be sufficient for us without the 2 1/2 cups of fontina and asiago which really add a lot of calories not to mention expense.

4 users found this review helpful

Reviewed on Dec. 31, 2004 by REBECCA70111

This pasta is incredible. I made it for my mother over Christmas, and she went bonkers over it. I used Angel Hair pasta and about 3 cups of shredded asiago & fontina cheese. I also made the marinade and let it set the day before I made it. TRY THIS RECIPE, YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. I could live off of this stuff.

4 users found this review helpful

MORE MEMBER REVIEWS