Description
Sweet and jammy cherry tomato spaghetti with crispy breadcrumbs, herbs and lemon, this family-friendly pasta is like summer in a bowl. Simple to make and ready in under 45 minutes this is the perfect mouth-watering summer dinner.
Ingredients
Crispy Breadcrumbs:
- Half a loaf (approx. 3 cups) day-old sour dough bread, torn into pieces
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 5 tablespoons olive oil, or just enough to oil breadcrumbs
- Sea salt and pepper, to season
Jammy Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce:
- 1 kg cherry tomatoes, washed
- ½ cup fig, date and balsamic relish (see notes)
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 garlic cloves, skin on and slightly crushed
- Small handful of fresh herbs; rosemary sprigs, sage leaves, oregano leaves and thyme sprigs
- 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
- Sea salt and pepper, to season
- 500 grams spaghetti
Crispy Herbs and Lemon:
- Small handful of mixed fresh herbs: rosemary sprigs, sage leaves, oregano leaves and thyme sprigs
To Serve:
- 1 room-temperature fresh mozzarella ball
Instructions
To Make the Crispy Breadcrumbs:
- Preheat oven to 180 C and line and oven tray with baking paper. Set aside.
- Place the day old sourdough bread, parmesan, herbs and salt and pepper into the bowl of a food processor.
- Pulse the breadcrumbs until some pieces are finely chopped whilst others remain quite large. With the motor running, quickly drizzle in the olive oil to coat the breadcrumbs.
- Place the breadcrumbs onto the prepared tray and bake for 20-25 minutes (stirring occasionally) or until golden, crispy and crunchy. Set aside.
To Make The Jammy Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce:
- Place a fry pan over medium heat and drizzle in a little olive oil.
- Add the cherry tomatoes, fig date and balsamic relish, rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano, garlic cloves and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes or until jammy and thickened.
- Taste the sauce for sweetness and if desired add the honey and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Remove the garlic cloves and herbs from the sauce.
- Bring a large pot of water to the boil.
- Add salt to season, spaghetti and cook according to packet instructions.
- Add cooked spaghetti directly into the pan of simmering jammy cherry tomato sauce and toss to combine. Set aside.
To Make the Crispy Herbs and Lemon:
- Place a small pan over low-medium heat and drizzle in a little olive oil.
- Carefully add the rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage and lemon rind and cook for 2-3 minutes or until golden and crispy.
- Place on a paper towel. Set aside.
To serve:
- Place the jammy cherry tomato-soaked spaghetti onto a serving dish. Nestle mozzarella ball amongst the spaghetti, top with crispy breadcrumbs, and sprinkle over the crispy fried herbs and lemon. Enjoy x
Notes
If you can’t find fig, date and balsamic relish, use caramelised onion relish.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pasta
- Cuisine: American