Many years ago when I first moved to California, I was invited to lunch in Sacramento. I don't remember the
name of the restaurant, but the dish of pasta that I ordered remains a favorite memory. It was a very simple dish of angel hair pasta, with a touch of cream and tiny, perfect cubes of fresh tomatoes. I'd never had such a dish, and thought it one of the most delightful ways to prepare pasta that I'd ever seen. Each year, when the summer tomatoes are available, I make my version of that memorable dish. It's fast and tastes very good. It's still not as perfect as that long ago lunch, but it will do.
This is so easy, and it's flexible, allowing you to add as much
tomatoes and cream as you desire. You make a sauce of cream and
sauteed shallots, to which small diced tomatoes are added just
before tossing it with cooked angel hair pasta. Then you top with
parmesan and chopped basil. Using a variety of different colored
tomatoes makes the dish look and taste very good.
This is my submission for Presto Pasta Night, which was created by the
lovely Ruth at Once Upon A Feast. Stop by her site on Friday and see all the other great
pasta dishes.
Angel Hair Pasta With Fresh Tomatoes
Note: You can add more tomatoes if you wish. It's up to you
(Serves 2)
8 ounces angel hair pasta
About 2 cups of seeded and juiced tomatoes, diced small
Around 1/2 cup cream
1 Tablespoon butter
1/4 cup finely chopped shallots
salt and pepper
chopped fresh basil
parmesan cheese
As your water for the pasta is heating, cook the shallots over low heat until soft. Add the cream and cook until hot, then set aside. Season with salt and pepper.
Cook the pasta, being careful not to overcook. Add the tomatoes to the cream and heat just to warm them up. Drain the pasta and toss it with the sauce. Serve immediately with chopped basil and freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Wow, it's a beautiful dish and what great photos. I can imagine this tastes heavenly. There is cream. There are tomatoes. There is basil. There is parmesan cheese. How could this possibly not taste fantastic?
Posted by: Kalyn | June 28, 2007 at 07:47 PM
So simple, yet looks so delicious. Even though I'm totally stuffed from dinner (black bean quesadillas) I want some!
Posted by: Georgia | June 28, 2007 at 09:04 PM
Absolutely gorgeous! I might go overboard and add a few little cubes of fresh mozzarella, too. If cheese is good, isn't more cheese better?!
Posted by: Lydia | June 29, 2007 at 03:20 AM
The pasta looks lovely and certainly says "summer" like nothing else. Thanks for sharing with Presto Pasta Night.
Posted by: Ruth | June 29, 2007 at 04:25 AM
Sher this looks so delicious that I'm going to try and adapt this for my microwave cooking I am doing during the week. What a great entry for PPN.
Posted by: breadchick | June 29, 2007 at 05:19 AM
yummy! i'll be right over.
what, you didn't save any????
:'(
Posted by: whaleshaman | June 29, 2007 at 06:17 AM
I love simple pasta dishes like this in summer. When the tomatoes are fresh, not much more is needed but you can't go wrong with a dollop of cream and some basil...
Posted by: Katiez | June 29, 2007 at 12:32 PM
Oh my I'm just imagining this with fresh angel hair pasta too. I also had a memory of a dish like this so shockingly simple and incredibly good. I forgot all about it, now I'll have to hunt down some good tomatoes.
Posted by: Callipygia | June 29, 2007 at 02:44 PM
Whenever you're stuck for a quick dinner or snack - saute something and toss it with a little boiled pasta! Any combinatoin of mushrooms, shallots, onions, garlic, tomatoes, olives, peppers, celery.. maybe a little leftover cooked chicken or ground beef or even anchovies - you really can't go wrong. This dish looks wonderful and is certainly timeless! The perfect post!
Posted by: Boston Chef | June 29, 2007 at 04:36 PM
Oh yes, another one to tag and I am making this ASAP. How I love pasta with fresh tomatoes; you can never have too many variations.
Posted by: Lisa | June 30, 2007 at 03:51 PM
That has got to be the perfect dish for summer if there ever was one. Yum!
Posted by: Glenna | July 01, 2007 at 10:09 PM
First time visit to your blog, impressive! A wonderful dish, I've made this with some ricotta, simple & tasty.
Posted by: Peter | July 02, 2007 at 07:17 AM
hiya - i made this tonight but i think my fancy organic farmers market cream was too thin. or something. the flavor was lovely though. thank you!
Posted by: claudia | July 28, 2007 at 07:18 PM
Do you think you could add a splash of white wine to this dish?
Posted by: Leanne | August 17, 2007 at 01:58 AM
this looks exactely like the one you can get at cimo grill in Prince George British Columbia. Try adding some shrimp...most delicous
Bonnie
Posted by: Bonnie Brown | September 02, 2009 at 03:43 PM