Description

Ina Garten’s Summer Garden Pasta Salad is a fresh and flavorful dish perfect for warm weather. Featuring halved cherry tomatoes marinated with garlic, basil, and red pepper flakes, this angel hair pasta salad is tossed with grated Parmesan cheese and garnished with fresh basil. It can be served warm, at room temperature, or chilled, making it a versatile and easy summer meal or side dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Tomato Marinade

900 g (32 oz) cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup olive oil
6 tbsp garlic cloves, minced
18 large fresh basil leaves, julienned
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Pasta and Garnish

454 g (1 lb) angel hair pasta
1 1/2 cups (6 oz) Parmesan cheese, grated, plus extra for serving
Extra fresh basil leaves, for garnish

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Instructions

Create the Tomato Marinade: In a large bowl, combine the halved cherry tomatoes, olive oil, minced garlic, julienned basil leaves, red pepper flakes, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Toss gently to mix everything well. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let this fragrant mixture marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours to allow the flavors to meld.
Cook the Angel Hair Pasta: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the angel hair pasta and cook just until al dente according to the package directions. Drain well but do not rinse to ensure the pasta absorbs the tomato marinade well.
Assemble the Salad: Immediately add the hot, drained pasta to the bowl of marinated tomatoes. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and gently toss everything together until the cheese melts and coats the pasta, and the pasta soaks up the garlicky tomato marinade. Use a large spoon to scoop up all the juices.
Finish with Fresh Basil and Serve: Add a handful of extra fresh basil leaves and toss gently again. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Top with extra Parmesan cheese before serving. The salad can be enjoyed warm, at room temperature, or chilled for a refreshing make-ahead dish.

Notes

The longer the tomato marinade rests, the more flavorful your salad becomes, so feel free to let it sit up to 4 hours.
Do not rinse the pasta after cooking so it retains flavor and better absorbs the marinade.
Angel hair pasta works best as it soaks up the marinade well and offers a light texture.
Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes based on your preferred heat level.
This salad can be served right away or chilled for later, perfect for picnics or potlucks.