Pasta with Fresh No-Cook Tomato Basil Sauce & Charred Cherry Tomatoes
When tomatoes are at their peak, there’s no need to simmer them for hours. This fresh, no-cook tomato sauce is made with ripe vine-ripened tomatoes, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil, then tossed with high-protein, gluten-free pasta and topped with sweet, blistered cherry tomatoes, fragrant basil, and vegan Parmesan. It’s a simple, vibrant meal that’s perfect for summer and ready in just 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Gluten-Free, Vegan
Ingredients
Scale
For the Fresh Tomato Sauce
- 16 ounces vine-ripened tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
For the Pasta
- 8 ounces high-protein, gluten-free pasta (chickpea, lentil, edamame, or your favorite variety)
- ½ cup reserved pasta water (optional)
For the Charred Tomato Topping
- 1 pint (about 2 cups) cherry tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- Additional fresh basil for garnish
- Vegan Parmesan, for serving
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the pasta water.
- While the pasta cooks, prepare the sauce. Add the chopped vine-ripened tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and sea salt to a food processor. Pulse until almost puréed, leaving just a little texture. Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if desired.
- Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cherry tomatoes in a single layer. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes begin to blister, soften, and develop light charred spots.
- Add the torn basil to the skillet during the last 30 seconds of cooking and gently toss until the basil becomes fragrant and just begins to wilt.
- Transfer the drained pasta to a large serving bowl. Pour the fresh tomato sauce over the pasta and toss until evenly coated. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Spoon the warm charred cherry tomatoes and basil over the pasta. Gently toss everything together.
- Finish with vegan Parmesan, additional fresh basil, freshly cracked black pepper, and salt to taste. Serve immediately
Notes
High-Protein Gluten-Free Pasta Options
- Chickpea pasta
- Lentil pasta
- Edamame pasta
- Red lentil pasta
- Black bean pasta