Engagement pasta
I must tell you that this pasta recipe is not mine, but inspired by my favorite IG kitchen witch Katie @babytamagooo
Give her a follow for the most refreshing, sassy food channel
<3
In our house I do most of the cooking.
Mostly because I thrive in the kitchen; it’s where my senses come alive and I feel my ancestors the strongest. Pruning herbs, preparing broths, chopping vegetables, salting meat, and dreaming flavor pairings into reality. My kitchen is the intergenerational hearth where my medicine flourishes.
I love feeding people. My family, friends, birth clients, and especially my big, burly fiancé, who eats like a garbage disposal and makes it possible for me to keep cranking out these wild recipes.
BEFORE we got engaged, I would preface a particularly delicious meal by telling him, “You’re gonna wanna marry me after eating this.”
The first time I said it I got a little shy and quickly retracted the statement. But as our relationship has progressed and we’ve talked more openly about marriage, this has become a comment I frequently make before unveiling a kickass meal.
In June 2023 I was riding the high of my birthday week, gorgeous weather, and the serendipity of wandering into a small Italian deli earlier that day.
As soon as I got home I whipped this pasta salad together and declared it “engagement pasta” (in the spirit of Ina Garten’s engagement chicken, IYKYK.)
Little did I know, he was planning on proposing to me the next day ;)
(I said yes! You can read about it here. )
So here you have it. This pasta salad has magical powers, and will definitely get that ring on your finger if that’s what you seek.
It’s colorful, fresh, fun, and has the essence of summer. Get creative with the pasta type and ingredients, make it into something your own :)
Don’t overthink your tomato confit! Toss it in that oven with plenty of olive oil and fresh herbs.
I caved and got the Graza oil like the tiktok girlies. The oil is ok, you’re really just paying for the cute bottle :)
Engagement Pasta Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces cascatella pasta
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 8 ounces burrata cheese
- 2 grilled nectarines, sliced
- 1 pound cherry tomatoes (for the confit, see instructions below.)
-1/2 pound sweet red peppers
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
-2 cups fresh arugula
- 4 slices prosciutto (roast at 400° for 10 minutes until **crispy**)
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Tomato Confit Ingredients:
- 1 pound cherry tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
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Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) for the tomato confit.
2. In a baking dish, combine the cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, torn basil leaves, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat the tomatoes evenly.
3. Bake the tomato mixture in the preheated oven for 1.5 hours, or until the tomatoes are softened and slightly caramelized. Your house will smell amazing.
4. While the tomato confit is baking, cook the cascatella pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool it down. Set aside.
5. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta with olive oil and toss gently to coat the pasta evenly.
6. Tear the burrata cheese into small pieces and add them to the pasta.
7. Add the grilled nectarine slices, arugula, sweet peppers, tomato confit (once it has cooled down slightly), torn basil leaves, and minced garlic to the bowl. Gently toss to combine all the ingredients.
8. Break the baked prosciutto into smaller pieces and add it to the pasta salad.
9. Squeeze the juice of one lemon over the salad and season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss everything gently to combine.
10. Let the engagement pasta salad sit for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
11. Serve the pasta salad chilled or at room temperature. It can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish.
Note: Feel free to adjust the quantities of the ingredients according to your taste preferences. You can also add additional herbs or spices if desired. Enjoy your engagement pasta salad!
