Description
This Simple Roasted Sungold Cherry Tomato Pasta features a luscious creamy sauce made from oven-roasted Sungold cherry tomatoes, garlic, shallots, and fragrant thyme, blended to perfection with Calabrian chile peppers for a subtle heat. Crispy prosciutto adds savory crunch, while goat cheese and parmesan create a rich, tangy finish. Fresh basil brightens the dish, making it a perfect balance of flavors and textures in just 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Sauce Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 cups Sungold or cherry tomatoes
- 2 shallots, quartered
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- 3 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 1 - 3 tablespoons crushed Calabrian chile peppers in oil
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Additional Ingredients
- 8 slices prosciutto
- 1 pound long or short cut pasta (such as pennoni)
- 4 ounces goat cheese (ricotta or cream cheese can be used as substitutes)
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 425°F (220°C) to prepare for roasting the cherry tomato mixture.
- Roast Ingredients: In an oven-safe pot or large roasting pan, combine butter, tomatoes, shallots, garlic, thyme, Calabrian chile peppers, salt, and black pepper. Toss to coat evenly. Arrange prosciutto slices on top and roast for 15-20 minutes until the prosciutto is crispy.
- Remove Prosciutto: Carefully take the crispy prosciutto off the roasted tomatoes and set aside for garnish.
- Blend Sauce: Using an immersion blender or a regular blender, puree the roasted tomato mixture until smooth and creamy, forming a rich sauce.
- Cook Pasta: Prepare pasta according to package directions until al dente. Just before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: In the pot with the tomato sauce, add the cooked pasta, goat cheese, grated parmesan, fresh basil, and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Stir well until the sauce is smooth and coats the pasta evenly. Add more reserved pasta water if the sauce needs thinning.
- Serve: Divide the pasta onto plates. Top each serving with additional parmesan, the reserved crispy prosciutto, and fresh basil leaves. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- You can substitute goat cheese with ricotta or cream cheese for a milder creamy texture.
- The amount of Calabrian chile peppers can be adjusted to control the heat level.
- Reserving pasta water is important for adjusting the sauce consistency perfectly.
- Use an oven-safe pot for roasting to minimize cleanup and maximize flavor fusion.
- Fresh basil added at the end enhances the freshness and aroma of the dish.
