Description

Ina Garten’s Summer Garden Pasta Salad is a vibrant, fresh, and flavorful dish perfect for warm weather. It features tender angel hair pasta tossed with a fragrant marinade of cherry tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes, finished with a generous amount of grated Parmesan cheese. This salad can be served warm, at room temperature, or chilled, making it an ideal make-ahead meal for summer gatherings.

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

454 g (1 lb) angel hair pasta

Finishing Touches

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 with plastic wrap and let this fragrant mixture marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours to allow 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 package directions. Drain well but do not rinse; the hot pasta will absorb the marinade beautifully.
Assemble the Salad: Immediately add the hot, drained pasta to the bowl of marinated tomatoes. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and toss everything gently until the cheese melts and coats the pasta, and the marinade is absorbed by the noodles. Use a large spoon to ensure you scoop up all the garlicky tomato juices.
Finish with Fresh Basil and Serve: Add a handful of extra fresh basil leaves and give the salad a final gentle toss. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Top with extra Parmesan before serving. Enjoy warm, at room temperature, or chilled for a refreshing, make-ahead summer dish.

Notes

Do not rinse cooked pasta to retain the marinade flavors.
Marinate the tomatoes for longer (up to 4 hours) for deeper flavor.
This salad can be served warm, room temperature, or chilled.
Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best taste.
Add more red pepper flakes for extra heat if desired.