Orecchiette With Cherry Tomatoes and Arugula
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This is a great pasta dish to make in the summer when your cherry tomato plant is giving you an abundant harvest. It is a light healthy dish with the addition of fresh arugula. If you can find whole wheat orecchiette pasta please use for a more healthy option.
MAKES: 4 Servings
PREP/COOK TIME: 40 Minutes
INGREDIENTS
1 Teaspoon salt, plus salt for pasta water
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1¼ pounds large cherry tomatoes, halved
12 ounces dry orecchiette
2 cups, packed, arugula
Ground black pepper
½ cup freshly grated pecorino
DIRECTIONS
Start bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons oil on medium-low in a large sauté pan. Add garlic and allow to cook 10 minutes, until oil is fragrant but garlic has not browned. When water boils, stir in pasta.
Add tomatoes to oil in sauté pan, increase heat to medium-high and, when tomatoes start to shrivel and collapse, reduce heat to low and cook until softened but not shapeless, about 5 minutes. Stir a couple of times. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
Drain pasta and add to tomatoes, folding both together. Add some pasta water if needed for moistening. Fold in arugula and remaining oil. When arugula has just wilted, season dish with salt and pepper. Serve with a dusting of cheese.
