I received compensation – in both money and a LOT of tomatoes – to do this post. As always though, I work only with products that I’d eat myself, and companies whose nutrition philosophy aligns with mine. I think you’d all agree that Sunset Produce makes some pretty awesome tomatoes (and cucumbers, and peppers)…so it was my pleasure to work with them and recommend their products to you.

 

One of the most common challenges I hear about from my clients is that of dinner. Not having enough time to make dinner, not knowing what to make that will appeal to everyone in their family, or just not being prepared to make something healthy. At the end of a long day, when you’re tired, it’s really difficult to take that extra step to put a healthy dinner on the table. Well, until now. This simple 20 minute pasta recipe is a meal the whole family will love. It uses items that are staples in many homes, and it’s super quick. Best of all, it’s something that both kids and adults will enjoy…so no more mealtime conflict!

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Don’t be afraid of the term ‘melted tomatoes’. Tomatoes don’t melt like, say, ice cream – but they do burst and deflate and become completely delicious when you slowly cook them. You’ll see.

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Bucatini with Melted Tomatoes and Ricotta
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
  • 1-450 g package of bucatini or other pasta
  • 5 cups One Sweet® tomatoes 1.5lb package
  • 1.5 cup chopped basil lightly packed
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup onion
  • 4-5 T olive oil
  • 3-4 cloves garlic finely minced – about 4t
  • Large pinch of salt plus more to taste
Instructions
  1. Put a large pot of water on to boil for the pasta before you start this recipe. While you’re making the tomatoes, the water will boil, and you’ll add the pasta to the water so that the tomatoes and the pasta will be done at around the same time.
  2. In a large frying pan, heat 1T olive oil and add the onions, cooking until translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Remove from the pan.
  3. Add another 2T olive oil to the pan and add the One Sweet® tomatoes and salt. Cook on low-medium heat, stirring every few minutes, until the tomatoes begin to burst. You can help this process along by gently pressing the tomatoes with the back of a wooden spoon, but don’t press too hard!
  4. Once the tomatoes begin to burst and release liquid, add the onions and garlic back to the pan, plus the basil, and cook for another 5 minutes.
  5. Drain the pasta well and add to the frying pan with the tomatoes. Drizzle with 1-2T olive oil and toss to combine all the ingredients in the pan.
  6. Serve with dollops of ricotta on top of the pasta and sprinkled with more fresh basil and red pepper flakes if desired.