Cheesy Pasta with Tomato Salsa Topping
One of my favorite summer recipes is this Cheesy Pasta with Tomato Salsa Topping. The pasta has ricotta, fontina, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese in it. Giving it a great creamy texture.
The salsa is flavored with garlic, basil, and sea salt. Together they create the best tomato pasta salad.
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One of our favorite summer meals is this delicious pasta recipe. It’s a family favorite that I adapted from a recipe that a friend made many years ago.
Using tomatoes fresh from my garden or the farmer’s market is the ideal way to create this recipe. That being said, it’s still really good with store-bought tomatoes.
Summer Tomato Basil Salsa over Creamy Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 pounds tomatoes Cored and diced
- 1/2 cup fresh basil shredded
- 1 tablespoon sea salt Can use less if your want less sodium – You can also use Kosher Salt
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 tablespoon milk or cream
- fresh ground pepper to taste
- freshly grated nutmeg
- 2 ounces fontina cheese (or fontinella) diced into 1/4" pieces
- 2 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese diced into 1/4" pieces
- 1 pound rotini or other short pasta
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 cup parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Combine first 4 ingredients and let stand at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours, stirring occassionally
- Mix ricotta cheese with milk or cream to thin. Season with spices. Stir in cubed cheeses and let stand.
- Cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain and put into a large pasta bowl. Toss pasta with olive oil. Add cheese mixture and fold in so pasta is evenly coated.
- Drain tomato mixture in colander used to drain pasta. Put mixture on top of the pasta. Sprinkle with a good portion of fresh grated parmesan cheese. Pass the remainder
- Serve with Fresh French Bread & a Simple Green Salad
Alternative Suggestions for Cheesy Pasta with Tomato Salsa Recipe
Adding Protein
We like to eat this dish for a main course with crusty French bread and a side salad. However, you can have this as your side dish and serve it with protein along with a salad or vegetable.
Some ideas for your protein:
- Baked Chicken Breast
- Sautéed Tofu and Garlic
- Meatballs
- Italian Sausage
- Sautéed Shrimp
What Kind of Pasta Should You Use?
I use rotini noodles for this recipe but you can also use any type of short pasta. Here are some of my suggestions:
- Farfalle (Bow Tie)
- Campanelle
- Penne Rigate (Mostaccioli)
- Elbow Noodles (Macaroni)
Side Dish Suggestions
- French Bread
- Salad
- Green Beans
- Asparagus
- Fruit Salad
- Cucumber Salad
Wine Pairing
I love a great bottle of wine with dinner. Here are some of my suggestions for this pasta dish:
- Josh Cellars – Rosé (Grocery or Liquor Store)
- House of Mandela – Sauvignon Blanc (Trader Joe’s)
- Sainte Celine – Chablis (Trader Joe’s)
- Jermann – Pinot Grio (Liquor Store)
Conclusion
I love making this when we have guests out on the boat for the day. I make the tomato mixture and the cheese mixture early in the day. When we get home I boil the pasta and then put the dish together.
I hope you like this recipe as much as we do.
Enjoy!
Meet Me
My name is Lynn. I live in the suburbs of Chicago in a 1,300 sq. ft. home with my Handy husband, Keith.
I’m an open book about my life on my blog. You can find out more about me by visiting my About page.
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