Friday, April 18, 2008

A Simple Pasta Dish

I watched Giada make this pasta dish a few weeks ago on one of my favorite Food Network shows. I was home alone then and terribly hungry, and needed to fix a quick meal for myself. This was just perfect! It was incredibly easy and the recipe called for the simplest of ingredients- tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese- ingredients that I almost always have on hand.

Ingredients:
1½ cups uncooked pasta (I only had rigatoni in my pantry.)
4 shallots, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, crushed
3 small tomatoes, cubed
3-4 basil leaves, chopped
2 Tbsp shredded Mozzarella cheese
1 Tbsp olive oil
Salt
Pepper


Method:
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta, and cook according to the package instructions or until al dente. Drain well after reserving a cup of the pasta water and return to the pot.

In a pan heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the crushed garlic and shallots and sauté for about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, salt and pepper. Cook until the tomatoes are soft.

Transfer the tomato sauce to the pot with the pasta. Toss to combine. Add the basil leaves and shredded mozzarella. Mix well. Add the reserved pasta water to thin out the sauce. Serve.


It is amazing how these few, simple ingredients come together so well to produce a dish that is bursting with flavors. This recipe is definitely a keeper!



Other pasta recipes here:
Pinwheel Pasta in a Roasted Vegetable Sauce
Simple Pasta Salad
Pasta with Basil Pesto
Pasta with roasted Bell Pepper-Cherry Tomato sauce
Ravioli with Balsamic Brown Butter


Ruth, this simple dish is my contribution to Presto Pasta Night.

47 Burps:

Rachel said...

Very little ingredients yet the bowl of pasta looks awesome :)

Your simple pasta salad has become regular at my place....

Pooja said...

CAUTION : LOOKING AT MANY FOOD BLOG IN THE EARLY MORNING CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR YOUR HUNGRY STOMACH :)) .

that pic is enough to make anyone feel so.... :( .

Uma said...

Mmm. pasta looks so delicious. The picture is very tempting.

Anonymous said...

Very simple indeed. Nothing is as satisfying as a home cooked meal, especially when hungry.

Finla said...

Delicious pasta dish.
Would love to have a huge bowl yummy

Miri said...

I make a similar pasta dish and its really easy when you want a quick meal - the shallots sound like a great idea!

Patricia Scarpin said...

Sometimes simple is all we need - what a delicious dish!

Unknown said...

the pasta looks really yummy..I too love giada s shows

Anonymous said...

It looks delicious! I always search for these kinda recipes, which are quick to prepare and good to eat. Thnx for sharing!

www.zaiqa.net

Dhivya said...

wonderful pasta dish!looks so yumm...

Madhavi said...

Excellent click, pasta looks great. M also big fan of Gaida, love her recipes, the most glamourous chef huhhhh.

Vanamala Hebbar said...

amazing ...lovely pic

Rupa said...

Pasta looks yummy...I too love watching Giada..I am going to try this for dinner today

ranji said...

really nice and simple recipe.even i watch giadas show and i too have posted a dish from her show.chk it on this link.
http://rbcuisines.blogspot.com/2008/04/baked-penne-with-roasted-vegetables.html
I fu r interested then u can send this dish to ITALY Food Lovers Event-fav spring pasta.here is the link to the event
http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy-featured/food-drink/italy-food-lovers-event-your-favourite-spring-pasta?page=0%2C1

Anonymous said...

I like the simplicity. It's easy, and very little can go wrong.

Kalai said...

Sometimes simple, clean flavors are really the best thing!! Looks awesome! :)

Namratha said...

You stole my post...:P I feel like having some right away T :)

Deepa Kuber said...

wow thats really simple tbc.. will try it, good recipe to start with when someone is making pasta for 1st time:)

Richa said...

yummmm!
just all the right ingredients :)

Anonymous said...

Pasta is so versatile. This looks yummy.

SMN said...

Thats a perfect entry. Luks very tempting

Raaga said...

It looks lovely.. I have everything it needs and have to cook for just myself now too... :-)

grace said...

there's nothing wrong with simple and easy, especially when you come home delirious with hunger. sometimes giada gets it right! :)

Rajitha said...

this is the reason why i am not blogging..the darn food is waay too tempting for me :)

Purnima said...

TBC, wow..thanks for sharing this simple n yum recipe shall post my comment on taste once I make this!
Yum!

TBC said...

Rachel- thank you!
And I am glad that you tried the pasta salad and liked it.:)




Pooja- you are too sweet!
But it can be good too...it was on one such weekend morning that I came across your Ghaaroda recipe and rushed to the kitchen to make it for a quick BF. :-)


Uma- thank you.:)



Madhuram- true. It helps if the meal is simple to make to.:-)


Happy Cook- Come on over, I'll make some for ya.;-)


Miri- thanks.


Patricia- thank you.:)



Divya V- Another Giada fan! I like her show so much that I record it when I'm away at work.:)



Mona- I do too. I am all for quick and easy ones.:)



Dhivya- thanks.:)



Madhavi- yeah, very glamorous. There's more to her than her recipes! ;-)
I love her recipes. Most of them are so simple.



Vanamala- thank you.:-)



Rupa- we have a couple of Giada fans here today!:-)
Do let me know how you like it.I liked it so much that I've made it a few times since then.



Ranji- I checked your baked penne. It sounds wonderful. I think I remember that episode.
Thanks for sharing the event link with me. I'm not a good storyteller and I seldom share stories on my posts. I don't think my post will be a good fit for the event. Thanks anyway.Good luck to you.:-)




Cookinpanda- welcome to my blog.:)
I like it simple too.And I like it even more if the ingredient list is not a mile-long.:)


Kalai- thank you.:-) There's something about tomatoes, basil and mozarella which makes eating this a delightful experience.



Namratha- I was going to say that you stole it from Giada.;-)
I like how u call me T.;-). Good girl!:)



Anjali- yes it is... in fact, I think that was how Giada introduced the dish in that episode.:)



Richa- yeah, sure is!:-)



Vegeyum- thank you.:)



SMN- thanks.:)



Raaga- It is perfect when u need a no-fuss meal and have to cook only for yourself.



Grace- welcome to my blog! Thank you for stopping by.
In my book Giada always gets it right.;-)I love her vegetarian recipes. They're all so doable!



Rajitha- that is definitely one of the reasons for your absence, but there's more...;-)
When are we going to see a post, huh?



Purnima- I hope you like it as much as I did.:-)
And thank you, you are welcome. :-)

Arundathi said...

Those are all ingredients I have on hand. Gonna try this tomorrow...Thanks!

Lisa Turner said...

A lovely picture of an elegant pasta dish!

Sagari said...

simple and yummy pasta

Anonymous said...

I think sometimes the best dishes are the simple ones. I love your photo it looks very nice!

Unknown said...

the recipe is so simple...and so few ingredients,the pasta looks yum TBC

amna said...

never tried shallots in pasta. am sure it gives a different flavour! does seem simple enuf :)

Sig said...

basil, tomatoes and mozzarella, you can't go wrong with that combination... :) Looks lovely TBC!

Cynthia said...

I'm inspired... I'll make some pasta this week.

Swati said...

This really looks perfect TBC...Delicious ..Inspiring to the extent that I am making it for dinner tonite :D

Suganya said...

Hi.... The pasta looks gorgeous.... Nice recipe.... Love the combination in the sauce....

TBC said...

Arundathi- it's nice to see you here! :-)



Lisa- thank you.:-)



Sagari- I agree! ;-)



Chuck- welcome to my blog.
I like to keep it simple too.
I'm glad you like the picture.:)


Saswati- thank you. :-)



Nags- it is simple. You should make it for TH sometime.;-)

Seriously, how do u find the time to blog and blog hop now?


Sig- thanks.:-)


Cynthia- Please do. What did u have in mind?


Swati- thanks.:)
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.


Sukanya- thanks.:) It is a classic combination of Italian flavors.

Helene said...

If I had everything on hand right now, I would make it for dinner! There is everything right about tomato-garlic-tomato combo!! Simple yet so comforting!

TBC said...

Tartelette- thanks for stopping by. :-)
I agree...simple ingredients sometimes produce the tastiest of meals.

Meera said...

That picture is superb. Making me hungry!! Great job. Thanks for sharing.

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

I would love this dish.

TBC said...

Meera- you are welcome.:-)


Helene- do try it!:-)

Cris said...

This picture... is stunning, really, I find it so hard to shoot pasta... and you got it with so much style. Congratulations!

TBC said...

Cris- thank you.:D
I think the white color of the bowl has a lot to do with it. It does help bring out the colors in the dish.

OhioMom said...

A simple pasta dish is just what I enjoy, especially with the coming growing season and the availability of fresh produce.

TBC said...

Ohiomom- good to see you here.:)
Sometimes simple is all you need.

Richa said...

hey, this looks simple enough yet full of flavor, what do think @ this as a picnic food? will it be ok served a lil' on the cooler side? u hv good pasta salads here, sure could use one this wknd :)

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