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Tomato Confit Pasta

With just 3 fresh ingredients and minimal effort, you can have a plate of this seasonal pasta on the table in under 1 hour.

Tomato Confit Pasta

I know the word confit may conjure up some feelings of worry and anxiety, but I assure you, the process couldn’t be easier.  The term confit is typically associated with meat (especially duck), but can also be applied to fruits and vegetables.  Confit simply means to cook something in fat at a low temperature for a longer period of time.

Here, I’m tossing cooked pasta with slow-roasted tomato confit and chopped fresh basil.  To make the tomato confit, simply toss cherry tomatoes, garlic and basil in olive oil, and slow-roast for 45 minutes.  The resulting tomatoes will soften and blister, releasing some of their juices on to the pan.  The tomatoes and juices will have a wonderfully concentrated tomato flavor.  The pasta cooks up while the tomatoes are in the oven, keeping cook time to a minimum.  For best results, give this recipe a try while tomatoes are in season.  Continue reading for the recipe.

Pasta, Tomatoes, Basil

I’ve made this pasta a number of times, and it truly is easy to make.  Especially during the work week!  I start the tomatoes in the oven right when I get home from work, and while they are cooking, I get changed and cleaned up.  The pasta goes on 30 minutes later, and at the end of 45 minutes, I’m enjoying a super tasty seasonal pasta dish while watching reruns of Girls.  Boom.

Sometimes I like to double the recipe below and store leftovers in the fridge for later use. Tomato confit can also be used as a condiment for steak, chicken, sandwiches, salads or crostini. Just be sure to bring the mixture to room temperature before using.

Tomato Confit Pre-Bake

Seasoning is key with this recipe.  You need to season the tomatoes before they go into the oven, and you need to season the pasta water.  Once you combine the two, you need to check for seasoning again.  I found that I needed to add a couple more pinches of salt to really make the flavors pop.

Tomato Confit Post Bake

Tomato Confit Pasta
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Tomato Confit Pasta

Servings 4 servings
Author Brandon Matzek

Ingredients

  • 2 pints 50 – 60 cherry tomatoes, stemmed
  • 4 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
  • Handful of basil leaves, torn, plus more for topping
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 12 oz dried pasta

Instructions

  1. Preheat an oven to 325°F. Place tomatoes, garlic and basil on a rimmed baking sheet, and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Sprinkle with a large pinch of salt and several turns of black pepper, then toss to combine. Bake until the tomatoes are soft and wrinkled, 45 – 50 minutes, stirring the tomatoes around a few times to ensure even cooking.
  2. While the tomatoes are cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente (soft on the outside, but still some bite left on the inside). Place cooked pasta and tomato confit* in a large bowl, tossing to combine. Season to taste with additional kosher salt and black pepper (I added a couple additional pinches of salt).

To serve, divide pasta between 4 bowls, and finish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkling of chopped fresh basil.

Recipe Notes

*If you don’t plan on using all of the tomato confit with the pasta, discard garlic, and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.

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Comments

  6. How do you call pasta? I like the shape, especially for this kinda “sauce-less” dish.
    I think I’ll be making this dish soon. It’s so beautiful I can almost taste it.

  9. This one has been a classic in our home as long as I can remember. It’s so perfect for summer, and isn’t it wonderful how just a few ingredients can make such a very tasty dish. Of course, the better the olive oil, the better the dish! The pasta too is easy to make. Just roll the dough into little balls, shape into ropes and roll them around a knitting needle or the official tool, an iron rod, known as a ferretto. Complimenti, and I hope you are having a wonderful summer!

  12. Oh, I’m definitely making this! It’s perfect for this time of year, when I can only get the bare minimum of flavorful tomatoes in Maine — I’m loving the cocktail tomatoes grown in Maine by Backyard Farms.

  13. tomato and basil is possibly my favorite savory combination, and this pasta looks perfect. looking forward to spring…

  14. I love everything about this. Every. Thing. It’s simple and that, in my mind, is the best way to serve tomatoes. They don’t need much. Cannot wait until summer so I can grow some of my own and try this! What shape of pasta did you use?

  17. OMGosh!!! Super easy and SO delicious. The aroma alone in the kitchen while the tomatoes are roasting is to die for. Amazing how a few ingredients can have such a powerful, delicious taste. Thank you for sharing. I’m anxious to try more of your recipes.

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