Slow Roasted Tomato Basil Pasta
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
30 mins
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Cook Time
2 hrs
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Total Time
2 hrs 30 mins
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Servings
4 people
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Slow Roasted Tomato Basil Pasta
Description
To make the Slow Roasted Tomato Basil Pasta, cherry tomatoes are halved and tossed with olive oil, garlic, sugar, salt, black pepper, and thyme before roasting at 300°F for 1.5 to 2 hours. This process concentrates their natural sugars and softens their texture, creating a caramelized, sweet component. Meanwhile, basil leaves are blanched briefly and shocked in ice water to preserve color and flavor, then pureed with olive oil and salt to create a bright, green basil oil which is left to settle for better clarity.
The whole wheat spaghetti is cooked and then combined with the basil oil, optional minced garlic, slow roasted tomatoes, and grated Parmesan cheese, which adds richness and mild salty notes. The dish is finished with shaved Parmesan and fresh basil leaves for garnish, delivering a layered flavor profile with the softness of roasted tomatoes balanced by the aromatic herb oil and cheese.
This pasta can include extra basil oil to adjust herb intensity and benefits from the prepared slow roasted tomatoes which keep refrigerated for a few days, adding convenience to assembly.
Ingredients
slow roasted tomatoes
- 2 pints cherry tomato halved, or grape tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 tablespoon sugar
- 1 garlic minced, clove
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme dried
basil oil
- 2 cups sweet basil leaves tightly packed
- 1 cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- black pepper freshly ground
pasta
- 1 pound whole wheat spaghetti noodles
- 3 to 4 tablespoons basil oil or more if you wish!
- 2 garlic minced (optional, cloves
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese plus more for sprinkling, freshly grated
- 2 pints tomato slow roasted
- Parmesan Cheese for garnish, freshly shaved
- basil leaves for topping, a few, fresh
Instructions
slow roasted tomatoes
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the cherry tomatoes on the sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic, sugar, salt, thyme and toss well. Roast for 1.5 to 2 hours, tossing every 30 minutes, until the tomatoes are super caramely and shriveled and sweet.
- P.These keep great in a sealed container in the fridge for a few days if you have extra!
basil oil
- Bring a pot of water to a boil to blanch the basil. Prepare a bowl of ice water next to it. Once boiling, add the basil to the pot and cook for 10 seconds. Remove it and immedaitely place it in the ice bath. Leave it in there for a few minutes to make sure it is cold, then remove it and squeeze excess liquid from the leaves. Chop the basil into pieces
- Place the basil in a high powered blender or food processor. Add the olive oil and salt and puree until the oil is smooth and green. It may be frothy, so let the oil sit for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, strain it through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the basil bits. Ues a spoon to push any oil through the sieve.
- At this point you can use the oil right away or store it in the fridge for a week!
pasta
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the directions. Once it’s finished, drain the water and place the pasta in a large bowl. Toss immediately with 3 to 4 tablespoons of the basil oil (more if you wish!) and the garlic. Toss in the parmesan cheese.
- Stir in the tomatoes (and any extra oil/juice that may be on the pan). Taste and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper if you need it. Toss in some extra cheese and basil leaves. Serve immediately!
Notes
- The basil oil is prepared by blanching fresh basil leaves and pureeing with olive oil and salt, then resting it to allow the oil to settle before use, improving texture and flavor clarity.
- Slow roasted tomatoes can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for a few days, allowing you to make extra for later pasta dishes.
- Adjust the amount of basil oil in the pasta to taste, adding more for stronger herb flavor if desired.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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