One pan pasta

As I browsed my June edition of Martha Stewart Living, I came across a recipe for one pan pasta that was derived from a tiny restaurant in Italy.  I was instantly intrigued since it sounded both simple & delicious which then made me just a tad skeptical.  But, anytime a recipe is fresh, healthy, inexpensive & quick while claiming to be a "perfectly al dente pasta in a creamy sauce that coats every strand," you can count me in.  So, I made it for dinner last week & it was positively delightful!!  This will seriously become one of my go-to weeknight meals; you really do have to try it for yourself!  Even better, both kids gobbled it up, especially picky Reese who even had second helpings.  We always have garlic on hand & with our basil plant out back, we only had to buy linguine, tomatoes & an onion!  Can I get cheap, cheap up in here?!

We used whole wheat linguine for extra nutrition & washed it down with a glass of red wine, also for extra nutrition....  or sanity!  ;o)  From start to finish, this meal took me about twenty minutes; clean-up was a breeze with a knife, cutting board & pan.

One-Pan Pasta

12 ounces linguine

12 ounces cherry or grape tomatoes, halved or quartered depending on size

1 small onion, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)

4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 sprigs basil (plus extra torn leaves for garnish)

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (plus more for serving)

 Coarse salt & freshly ground pepper

4 1/2 cups water

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving

1) Combine pasta, tomatoes, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, basil sprigs, oil, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper & water in a large, straight-sided skillet.  Bring to a boil over high heat.  Boil mixture, tossing pasta frequently with tongs, until pasta is al dente & water has nearly evaporated, about 9 minutes.

2) Season to taste with salt (I did not need to add additional salt) & pepper, olive oil, basil & Parmesan cheese & serve!

The dish almost had the creaminess of Alfredo sauce without the cream & a hint of spice from the red-pepper flakes, though not too spicy for my kiddos to enjoy.

 

No, your eyes are not deceiving you, Mike certainly is furiously grating Parmesan onto the table, not the bowl because that's how Cameron likes it, don't ya know?  I never said that my children were not odd!  Anyway, make this dish, you'll enjoy it, I promise!