9.4.15 Tomato, Basil, and Brie Pasta
Every so often, one of my good friends and I get together for girl’s night, which generally involves cooking a delicious dinner, watching a lot of trashy television, and eating ice cream. The things we cook vary; we’ve made everything from risotto to grilled pizza to mapo tofu. And then last week, we made this.
My friend had mentioned that she had this genius pasta recipe (I use the word recipe loosely here because it’s so incredibly easy, you almost don’t need one), and we proceeded to make and devour it. It was fantastic; definitely a highlight of girls cooking night, and one that I immediately knew needed to be shared on the blog.
The reason this recipe works so well is that it takes advantage of several important things. First and foremost, that when tomatoes and basil are in season, pretty much any recipe you put them in is going to taste absolutely amazing. And secondly, if you toss hot pasta with chunks of creamy brie cheese, it will melt wonderfully and coat everything in a silky, creamy sauce that basically makes itself. This recipe is a lazy person’s dream. Not that I’m calling myself lazy.
Tomato, Basil, and Brie Pasta
serves 4
- ¾ lb cherry tomatoes, cut into halves (or quarters if they’re on the larger side)
- 1 cup basil leaves (loose packed), roughly chopped
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 8 oz brie cheese
- ½ lb pasta (I used casarecce, but linguini or fettuccine would also work great here)
- parmesan cheese for serving
1. Combine the tomatoes, basil, olive oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
2. Cut the rind off of the brie and tear it into small pieces. Add these to the bowl with the tomato mixture. Stir to combine well, and let marinate while you cook your pasta.
3. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta until just tender. Drain into a large bowl and immediately add the tomato mixture to the hot pasta. Stir everything together and keep mixing until cheese has completely melted and coated pasta, about 1-2 minutes.
4. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper if needed, then serve immediately, topped with a sprinkle of freshly grated parmesan.
