It’s a scorching 98 degrees today. And you know the house rules: the oven stays at OFF.
I wish I were one of those girls who could say It’s summer! I’ll just eat “FroYo” for dinner. But no, not me. If I don’t sit down at a table to enjoy a proper meal, I am not a happy camper. And you do not want to see me unhappy, do you?
Tonight’s dinner was inspired by a gorgeous bunch of fresh basil that my mom gave me on a recent trip home (thanks, mom!). This no-cook tomato basil pasta sauce may just be my new go-to. This meal is a healthy and quick make-ahead dish and is relatively heat free.
The sauce is made to sit covered (not refrigerated!) for at least 1 hour or up to 1 day. I made the sauce in the morning before work and it took about 30 minutes to wash and chop all of the ingredients. And that was while multi-tasking. Someone had to tell mom her basil was being put to good use…
Within minutes, my apartment smelled like a summer garden. Which reminds me, if you’re lucky enough to have a garden, all you need to do is step outside, pick your ripest tomatoes, some basil and your favorite herbs. Mix with garlic and olive oil and you have yourself a sauce. Voila!
When I got home from my workday, I simply boiled water, cooked the pasta, and mixed the hot pasta into the sauce. While some recipes call for grated Parmesan, I decided to add chunks of fresh mozzarella, inspired by a caprese salad.
This meal took but a few minutes to come together right before dinnertime. But if the man of the house asks, I slaved away for hours…..
- 8 plum tomatoes, seeded, and chopped into ½ inch pieces (about 4 cups of tomato)
- 2 teaspoon chopped garlic
- ½ cup Fresh basil, chopped
- ½ cup Olive Oil
- Salt, to taste (about 1tsp)
- red pepper flakes, to taste (about 1tsp)
- 1 box whole wheat penne
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella, cubed
- Combine first 6 ingredients in a bowl (glass or ceramic is best). Let sit out, do not refrigerate, for at least 1 hour or up to 1 day. When you’re ready to eat, cook your favorite pasta and drain. While pasta is still hot, add to sauce. Add in chunks of mozzarella. Serve with a crusty, rustic bread.
- Hold the carbs, please: Love the tomato sauce but don’t want to eat all that pasta? Try the tomato topping on grilled chicken or swordfish.
64 Comments
Sawsan@chef in disguise
August 6, 2011 at 5:15 amI love the tomato topping..I make something similar but with mint and lemon juice instead of basil..sometimes it doesn’t even make it to meet the pasta lol
Fresh Tomato and Basil Spaghetti with Ricotta Salata « Savoring Every Bite
August 3, 2011 at 7:11 am[…] seen many versions of this dish; Maris (In Good Taste) recently did a similar no cook pasta sauce, and I’ve seen cheeses ranging from feta to parmesan […]
Fresh Tomato and Basil Spaghetti with Ricotta Salata « Savoring Every Bite
August 3, 2011 at 7:11 am[…] seen many versions of this dish; Maris (In Good Taste) recently did a similar no cook pasta sauce, and I’ve seen cheeses ranging from feta to parmesan […]
lisa {smart food and fit}
August 1, 2011 at 12:03 pmBrilliant way of making sauce!
Maureen
July 31, 2011 at 9:27 pmI’d want extra so I could eat the sauce with a spoon. This looks amazing.
Chaya
July 31, 2011 at 10:55 amThanks for this. Anything that doesn’t use the stove or oven is a blessing. It sounds delicious with all that fresh stuff.
Laura @ SweetSavoryPlanet
July 29, 2011 at 12:52 pmThis is a delicious dish. I have been keeping an eye on my tomatoes – they are getting there! (Thank goodness for farmers markets!) My personal preference is to go heavy on the tomato sauce. Also try adding Feta or Goat cheese and baby spinach (will slight wilt with the hot pasta) and totally easy, fresh and satisfying.
Natalie
July 29, 2011 at 12:07 pmThis no cook sauce is genius! I know what’s for dinner tonight, just going to pick some basil, thanks!!
Natalie
July 29, 2011 at 12:07 pmThis no cook sauce is genius! I know what’s for dinner tonight, just going to pick some basil, thanks!!
naomi
July 29, 2011 at 11:21 amI love your weeknight dinners! I love it even more that this is a no cook. Delcious and refreshing. Perfect for summer!
Lenore
July 29, 2011 at 11:14 amI love this idea, especially because I can prepare most of it before leaving for work (I work evenings, so don’t leave the house until noon but also don’t get home until 10pm)!
Ruth
July 29, 2011 at 10:36 amLove the idea of not needing to cook this! It looks great!
Jeanette
July 29, 2011 at 10:12 amLovely no-cook pasta sauce. I’ve been making something similar this summer with the sweltering heat, with a few kalamata olives thrown in.
Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather
July 29, 2011 at 10:06 amThis looks like just the summer dish I want to make! I have a bunch of fresh basil growing at home. Just cant get enough of it!
Cristina
July 29, 2011 at 9:53 amGood flavors, quick and flavorful…would be fantastic on bruschetta too! Love the use of all that basil. Have a fantastic weekend! 😉
Greg
July 29, 2011 at 8:14 amYes, yes, yes…. a thousand times yes. Although, I’d have to make more of the tomato base, I’d have trouble not eating it before the pasta was done!
Joanne
July 29, 2011 at 7:17 amI also get cranky when I don’t have a real meal in front of me. This looks fabulous! I love that the sauce is no-cook.
Although…I’ll never say no to froyo AFTER my real dinner.
Blond Duck
July 29, 2011 at 6:29 amYou struck a nerve! Those girls that just eat salad or fro yo for dinner drive me nuts. “Fro Yo” drives me nuts. Frozen yogurt. Four syllables. Not hard. Eat some meat or pasta or something besides lettuce.
Speaking of pasta, this looks fabulous. 🙂
Rosa
July 29, 2011 at 6:16 amScrumptious looking! That is a quick sauce I love to make during the summer.
Cheers,
Rosa
Sherilyn @ Wholepromise
July 29, 2011 at 6:04 amBasil and tomatoes – such a beautiful and classic combination not to mention super yummy as well.
Gina (The Candid RD)
July 29, 2011 at 6:03 amSounds wonderful, and it’s so pretty!!
Like you, it’s hard for me not to cook during these hots days. I know it heats up the house, but I think it’s worth it to be an little extra hot 🙂 If summer was shorter, maybe I’d giv eup cooking for a while…but two months is too long!
Lisa
July 29, 2011 at 2:06 amMaris – what better way to take advantage of summer tomatoes and basil than a simple, fresh no cook sauce. That first photo of the bowl of pasta with it is absolutely gorgeous and mouth-watering!
Tanvi@SinfullySpicy
July 29, 2011 at 1:22 amWow..no cook pasta sauce..thats the most creative recipe I have ever seen..love the pasta bowl full of cheese & tomatoes!
sheila @ Elements
July 28, 2011 at 11:59 pmWhat an awesome recipe during these scorching summer days!! It’s really a perfect pasta…one I would never get tired of! How lucky you are that your mom gave you the basil!!! 🙂
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
July 28, 2011 at 11:26 pmMaris I would love a serve of this and a serve of the sunshine you guys are having too! 🙂
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes
July 28, 2011 at 10:55 pmSuch a perfect meal for summer. Love the addition of fresh mozzarella.
Roxana GreenGirl
July 28, 2011 at 10:01 pmi love the no cook idea. during the summer month I try to keep my stove off most of the time. your tomato sauce will make my life much easier.
Thanks for sharing and for your lovely words left on my guest post on Nami @ Just One Cookbook blog
camille
July 28, 2011 at 9:54 pmI can and do eat frozen yogurt for dinner. Also ice cream. I’ll happily eat this for dinner, though!
Sarah
July 28, 2011 at 9:13 pmThis recipe looks fantastic. I must make it once my tomatoes come in. Just stumbled across your blog and love it!
lynn @ the actor's diet
July 28, 2011 at 8:16 pmi love recipes like this!
The Harried Cook
July 28, 2011 at 7:52 pmNo cook? Wow… That would be perfect on days like today! This one’s going into my file… Thanks, Maris!
Lisa from Lisas Yarns
July 28, 2011 at 7:06 pmOh yum! I am all about simple meals like this that don’t require the use of an oven or slaving over a hot stove!
peachkins
July 28, 2011 at 7:05 pmThis looks so delicious, I’m gonna bookmark it and will do it sometime..
kelsey @ un-american in france
July 28, 2011 at 6:30 pmThis looks amazing! I bet it’d be super yummy with goat cheese or crumbled feta, too!!
Kay
July 28, 2011 at 5:45 pmThis looks delicious! I’ve done the tomato/basil combo before but not this method, I’ll have to try it out!
rebecca
July 28, 2011 at 5:40 pmvery cool 🙂 no cooking and tasty and so good for this heat
Susan
July 28, 2011 at 5:07 pmSo simple but so delicious! Love it!
Liz
July 28, 2011 at 4:30 pmOh, YUM! What a superb recipe for this heat wave! I love every bit of it, and I’m SO glad you added my favorite fresh mozzarella~
Roz
July 28, 2011 at 3:56 pmHi Maris, this looks delicious. Isn’t fresh basil season the BEST!!!! There is just so much you can do with it, and it adds such a wonderful flavour!!! I would like to use the sauce as a dip and dunk a few pieces of baguette into it. Ok…I’m officially hungry! Have a great day.
Sophia
July 28, 2011 at 3:44 pmWho eats froyo for dinner?! That isn’t healthy or filling at all. I’d rather have your pasta. basil + tomato is the best summer combo ever!
Kate
July 28, 2011 at 3:40 pmYum! This looks divine and I love all of the fresh basil. Also love that this is no cook pasta sauce…mmmmmmm!
Junia @ Mis Pensamientos
July 28, 2011 at 2:23 pmoooo i love no cook sauces! this looks fabulous! don’t worry, i won’t tell your man 🙂
sarah
July 28, 2011 at 2:16 pmOh this sounds delicious, and what I wouldn’t give for 98º right now. 109º here.
Linda
July 28, 2011 at 1:49 pmMaris, I just made a bowl of pasta with fresh tomatoes the other night!! Looks like we are all wanting no cook dinners lately!! Your photo of the marinating tomatoes looks heavenly!!
natalie (the sweets life)
July 28, 2011 at 1:37 pmI need to make this! My basil plant is out of control!!
Shari @ Chicago Cuisine Critique
July 28, 2011 at 12:47 pmLooks great! Definitely a tasty combo. 🙂
Sarah (everydaysapicnic)
July 28, 2011 at 12:40 pmThis sounds so appealing and delicious! I have loads of tomatoes as well, so it’s a brilliant idea to use them up.
amy @ fearless homemaker
July 28, 2011 at 11:24 amwe grow both tomatoes + basil in our garden, so we make pasta dishes like this all the time during the summer. i especially love it with heirloom tomatoes – adds such a lovely color + variety in flavors. now you’ve got me craving this for lunch!
Biz
July 28, 2011 at 11:16 amIt’s looks like bruschetta in the bowl – love this idea! I sent my husband to the store over the weekend to buy basil, he ended up buying me a whole basil plant – now I know how to use some of it!
Emma
July 28, 2011 at 10:17 am98 degrees….. and rising?! I hope you busted out some boy band tunes and choreographed dance steps while making this:)
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
July 28, 2011 at 9:52 amThis really is the perfect summer recipe!
Anne @ Baking Me
July 28, 2011 at 9:47 amThis pasta sounds wonderful! I love that the sauce doesn’t require cooking, I must try this!
Simply Life
July 28, 2011 at 9:22 amoh my gosh, you have no idea how good this looks to me right now (and its 7am) – I definitely need to try this!
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen
July 28, 2011 at 9:11 amSimple and delicious! [And easy and inexpensive…] All signs of a perfect dinner. 🙂
Of course, I’d probably just eat the sauce and forget the pasta. But that’s because I’m crazy like that.*
*And who can eat only fro yo for dinner? I can eat dinner AND fro yo. Or maybe fro yo as a first course…but I agree with you. The sugary-ness of the fro yo would just leave my stomach unsettled!
Lynne @ 365 Days of Baking
July 28, 2011 at 8:54 amMaris, I make EXACTLY the same thing! I’ve never thought about making the sauce in advanced though. Will have to do that next time. We have this nearly every week as it’s both fast and delicious. I use the pearl mozzarella in mine, the size is just perfect.
yummychunklet
July 28, 2011 at 8:43 amThis sauce sounds divine! Can’t wait to try it.
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc.
July 28, 2011 at 8:30 amYou can’t beat a no cook recipe. I know my kids would dive right into this one!
Mary
July 28, 2011 at 8:23 amWhat a perfect summer meal. It’s sounds light but very flavorful with the punch it receives from the garlic and fresh basil. You can count me in on this recipes. The pasta sounds delicious. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary
Heather @girlichef
July 28, 2011 at 7:41 amOh, I love it. It’s totally summer in a bowl…I can just imagine the fresh taste since it’s not cooked. Perfect meal for the hot days 😀
bellini
July 28, 2011 at 7:34 amThis classic pasta screams summer in every bite.
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
July 28, 2011 at 7:08 amI just relinked a tomato/raw marinara sauce of mine in my last post. I love a quickie tomato-based sauce!
Erica
July 28, 2011 at 7:07 amThis sounds FANTASTIC! Especially with the fresh mozzarella! I can totally eat froyo for dinner…but it has to be a GIANT froyo…and this sounds much better 🙂
Three-Cookies
July 28, 2011 at 6:47 amI love this kind of salad. Sometimes I add chickpeas.
Kulsum at JourneyKitchen
July 28, 2011 at 6:13 amWow. No cook pasta sauce. That’s a great idea. What can go wrong with tomatoes, paste, basil and mozerella? Nothing!