Pasta with Sun Gold Tomatoes

Sun Golds are my favorite cherry tomato and they’re only around for a few months in the summer.  Run, don’t walk to your nearest farmers market and pick some up.  They’re golden orange in color and have a wonderful sweet flavor that makes them perfect for snacking, salads, sandwiches, or pastas.  I like to mix them with freshly cooked summer peas and toss them with a homemade vinaigrette. Delicious.

When you use the freshest ingredients, you don’t need many ingredients and this recipe is a perfect example. Be sure to use really good olive oil and Parmesan cheese.  It also calls for fresh basil which I was fresh out of, so use your imagination when you’re looking at the finished product.  You can add it at your house.

Sun Golds fresh from the Peachtree Road Farmers Market

Sun Golds charring in a pan with olive oil and garlic

Sun Gold tomatoes bursting in the pan and morphing into a creamy sauce.

This recipe is from the Food Network.

          Pasta with Sun Gold Tomatoes

• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 8 ounces Sun Gold or cherry tomatoes
• 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt
• 6 ounces capellini, spaghetti, or bucatini
• 3/4 cup finely grated Pecorino or Parmesan
• 8 medium fresh basil leaves, torn into pieces
• Toasted breadcrumbs (for garnish; optional)

Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add tomatoes, garlic, and red pepper flakes, season with salt, and cook, covered slightly and swirling pan often, until tomatoes blister and burst, 10-12 minutes. Press down on tomatoes to release their juices. Remove pan from heat and set aside.

Meanwhile, bring 3 quarts water to a boil in a 5 quart pot. Season with salt; add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until about 2 minutes before tender. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking water.

Transfer pasta to skillet with tomatoes; set over high heat. Add 1/2 cup pasta water. Cook, stirring and tossing often, until sauce thickens and begins to coat the pasta, about 1 minute. Stir in remaining oil, cheese, and half the basil and toss until sauce coats pasta and pasta is al dente. (Add more pasta water if sauce seems dry.) Add remaining basil, season with salt, and serve with breadcrumbs, if desired.