The key to amazing angel hair is pairing it with the right ingredients: the ethereal strands of goodness aren’t the right fit for a heavy sauce. Angel Hair Pasta understands this and finishes the pasta in a light, airy, buttery sauce with fragrant garlic and sharp parmesan. Better yet, it serves up the pasta with homemade marinated tomatoes that have the right amount of heat and brightness. Angel Hair Pasta is heavenly, no doubt about it!
Ingredients
For the marinated tomatoes:
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes, optional
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
For the pasta:
- salt, to taste
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 8 ounces angel hair pasta
- 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated, plus more, to taste, for serving
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped, plus more, to taste, for serving
- 1 tablespoon basil, chopped, plus more, to taste, for serving
Directions
Step 1 –Before cooking the pasta, combine the grape tomatoes, 1 clove of the garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, the red chili flakes, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, and the red wine vinegar in a bowl and let rest for 10 minutes.
Step 2 –Fill a medium pot full of water and bring it to a boil over high heat.
Step 3 –Season the water generously with the salt.
Step 4 –Heat a medium skillet over medium heat.
Step 5 –Add the butter and melt until bubbly and light golden-brown.
Step 6 –Reduce heat to low and add the remaining olive oil and the remaining garlic.
Step 7 –Cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
Step 8 –Transfer the skillet from the heat and set aside.
Step 9 –Break the pasta in half and add it to the boiling water.
Step 10 –Cook the pasta until just shy of al dente, about 2 minutes.
Step 11 –Reserve 3/4 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.
Step 12 –Immediately add the cooked pasta to the skillet and return the skillet to the stove-top over low heat.
Step 13 –Add the reserved pasta water to the skillet and mix well to combine.
Step 14 –Add the parmesan, the parsley, and the basil, and stir gently to combine, allowing the pasta to reach al dente, about 1 minute.
Step 15 –Transfer the pasta from the heat and top it with the marinated tomatoes, the extra parsley, the extra basil, and the extra parmesan.
Step 16 –Serve.
