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Heirloom Tomato Pasta

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This Heirloom Tomato Pasta recipe celebrates the color and freshness of summer produce!

Heirloom Tomato Pasta | gimmesomeoven.com

Do you ever have those moments when you are unexpectedly overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of food?

I have to admit — I spend many hours a day staring at food as I select it, cook it, photograph it, edit those photographs, and then write about it. And more often than not, even the most beautifully styled food can start to seem a little routine or “normal”. But every now and then I am caught off guard by the absolute beauty of food, and when that happens, it literally takes my breath away.

I had one of those moments yesterday.

I was buzzing through the grocery store trying to conquer a list a mile long. Then all of a sudden while walking out of the produce section, I saw a surprise rainbow out of the corner of my eye. I happen to know this particular store backwards and forwards, so it’s rare that something new shows up. But sure enough, right in the middle of the bin of roma tomatoes sat this small little cardboard box filled with tiny heirloom tomatoes.

And they were breathtaking.

Heirloom Tomato Pasta | gimmesomeoven.com

I parked my cart to take a closer look. And for a few moments, all I literally could do was stop and stare at them.

I know it sounds crazy.

But as I picked up the little tomatoes one by one, I was just in awe. Each little tomato was such a work of art. From the vibrant colors with subtle shading and intricate little stripes and designs, to the perfectly molded curves and shapes, to the variety of sizes big and small, to smooth surfaces and textured bumps and stems and leaves, even to the unique little marks that we call “imperfections” — my mind couldn’t even wrap itself around the creativity it took to design each tomato big and small.

And that’s before you ever take a bite!

Heirloom Tomato Pasta | gimmesomeoven.com

As one of my friends likes to say, it was one of those moments for me when I felt like God was “showing off”. :)

 

Heirloom Tomato Pasta | gimmesomeoven.com

Seriously.

How lucky are we that the food designed to nourish us also happens to be so beautiful and creative? To me, that speaks to a Creator who simply loves to create. And I absolutely love that. What a gift.

Heirloom Tomato Pasta | gimmesomeoven.com

So anyway, after I finally emerged from my little “tomato trance”, I immediately bagged up a big handful of tomatoes to bring home. I literally had a jam-packed schedule for the day to accomplish, but I wanted more than anything to just make something pretty to celebrate the simple beauty of this surprise little discovery.

So on my little lunch break, I boiled up a pot of pasta and diced up some tomatoes and garlic and basil, and tossed them all together to make this Heirloom Tomato Pasta.

Heirloom Tomato Pasta | gimmesomeoven.com

I hesitated to even post this one, since it’s hardly a “recipe”. But I thought it could also be a reminder that some of the best meals don’t require a recipe at all. Most of the time, if you throw a few fresh and delicious ingredients together in a pasta, it turns out just as fresh and delicious as you’d hoped.

And this pasta was no exception.

It was simple. It was flavorful. And it was its own little work of art. :)

Heirloom Tomato Pasta | gimmesomeoven.com

So I know that we’re all for taking a moment to really stop and savor the food that you’re tasting. But if you have the chance, I’d encourage you to stop and see — really see — the food that you’re tasting as well. From the prettiest of tomatoes, to even the simplest grain of rice, the artistry of the food we eat in a given day is mindbogging-ly awesome.

And lest I ever forget, it is such a gift. :)

Heirloom Tomato Pasta | gimmesomeoven.com

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Heirloom Tomato Pasta

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 2-4 servings 1x

Description

This heirloom tomato pasta recipe is as fresh and colorful as it is delicious!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb. dried pasta (I used linguine)
  • 3 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh basil
  • 2 lb. fresh heirloom tomatoes (or any fresh tomatoes), diced
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta in generously-salted boiling water until al dente according to package instructions, then drain.
  2. While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant. Stir in 1/4 cup of the fresh basil, and remove from heat.
  3. Toss the garlic mixture and tomatoes with the (drained) pasta until combined. Serve topped with the remaining basil and lots of Parmesan.

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27 comments on “Heirloom Tomato Pasta”

  1. I feel the same way about the beauty of food! I think photography has enhanced my ability to see the beauty in the simplest things. Those tomatoes and your pasta dish ARE beautiful! I don’t have heirloom tomatoes, but I am going to prepare this dish with our garden tomatoes. Yum!

  2. Ali, I am the same way!! Sometimes I buy a food just because It looks so pretty that day and I want to use it!! I have so much fun with new foods and trying to get pretty shots of them. This pasta is gorgeous and I so jealous of those heirloom tomatoes. I have not been able to find one all summer long! So sad, but I love how simple this pasta is. You can never go wrong with simple!

  3. I’m pretty sure God was showing off when he created the cherokee purple heirloom. I could eat it with a fork and knife as a snack!

  4. Heirlooms really are breathtaking. This is a completely gorgeous meal!

  5. You’re right, this dish is stunning. The rainbow of colors is just gorgeous. I can’t wait to try this recipe.

  6. a beautiful post from an obviously reformed fresh tomato disliker!

  7. your pictures are stunning, those tomatoes look gorgeous…

  8. I don’t think there’s any food that’s quite as beautiful as an heirloom tomato – stunning post Ali!

  9. Heirloom tomatoes are so beautiful. I am with you there sister! This pasta looks gorgeous too, I was just in Italy for a bit and the tomatoes there taste absolutely gorgeous, these tomatoes look like they would as well.

  10. Wow, this pasta is so pretty– great photos!

  11. I would have been in a “tomato trance” too! Someone simple is best and it totally was in this case! wow!

  12. Your pictures are breathtaking! This is beautiful and I’m sure just as delicious!!!

  13. You speak my love language. So pretty – this is the kind of thing that makes me yearn for never-ending summer.

  14. These are gorgeous. Tomatoes are my favorite part of summer. :)

  15. Pasta perfection, I love the heirlooms!

  16. Isn’t it just amazing how He supplies us with food, not only as nourishment for our bodies, but nourishment for our souls too, as cliche as it sounds. I love those little reminders of how great our God is!

  17. Gorgeous photos of these amazingly beautiful tomatoes! Actually, I think God was showing off when He made you! :) Thanks for sharing your heart and passions with us – we all enjoy who He’s made you to be! Have a great weekend!

  18. Gorgeous! I love all the colors from heirloom tomatoes!

  19. Wow this dish is so incredibly vibrant and beautiful :) I bet it tastes perfect!

  20. very refreshing for a hot summers day in lockdown!






  21. Really good and easy!! Our farmstand didn’t have those gorgeous purple ones but red, orange and yellow are still spectacular. Made per your recipe except at the end I added a pat (about 1 tblsp) of butter, because butter.