Bucatini with Zesty Tomato-Ricotta Pesto and Balsamic Glazed Cherry Tomatoes
Tantalize your tastebuds with this vibrant pasta dish featuring bucatini enveloped in homemade tomato-ricotta pesto, garnished with balsamic glazed cherry tomatoes, and sprinkled with golden bread crumbs. Bursting with a beautiful balance of zest and earthiness, it's the perfect way to turn everyday...
Cook the bucatini pasta according to package instructions. Scoop out 1 cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta. Set both the pasta and the water aside.
TOMATO-RICOTTA PESTO
2
Blend together the diced tomatoes, ricotta cheese, garlic, salt, and half of the romano cheese in a food processor until smooth. You've now made homemade tomato-ricotta pesto.
3
Pour the pesto over the pasta, adding reserved pasta water as needed to thin out the sauce.
LEMONY PANKO BREAD CRUMBS
4
In a skillet, heat one tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat, add the panko bread crumbs, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes until the breadcrumbs are toasted. Add juice from half the lemon, stir, and remove from heat.
BALSAMIC BURST CHERRY TOMATOES
5
In the same skillet, heat the remaining olive oil over high heat, and add the cherry tomatoes, sugar, salt, pepper, thyme, and shallot. Cook for about 5 minutes until tomatoes begin to burst.
6
Add the balsamic vinegar, stir, and remove from heat.
ASSEMBLING THE DISH
7
Combine pasta with tomato-ricotta pesto, balsamic burst cherry tomatoes, and lemony panko bread crumbs. Toss well to combine.
8
Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil and the remaining romano cheese.