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Best Balsamic Cherry Tomato Confit Pasta Recipe (Easy)

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This slow-roasted balsamic cherry tomato confit pasta is a comforting, restaurant-quality dish made with simple pantry ingredients. The oven does all the work, transforming cherry tomatoes into a sweet, jammy sauce with a deep balsamic tang that clings to every strand of pasta.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pints cherry tomatoes (about 600g)
  • 6 cloves garlic, smashed
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil (120ml)
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (45ml)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or ½ teaspoon table salt)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 pound pasta (450g), such as pappardelle or fettuccine
  • Reserved pasta water (about 1 cup / 240ml)
  • Fresh basil leaves, torn
  • Grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
  2. Rinse cherry tomatoes and pat dry. Place in a single layer in a 9×13 baking dish.
  3. Scatter smashed garlic cloves and rosemary sprigs among the tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Drizzle balsamic vinegar evenly over everything.
  4. Drizzle olive oil over the tomatoes (oil should come about halfway up).
  5. Roast for 90 minutes to 2 hours, until tomatoes are wrinkled, soft, and starting to collapse. Gently shake the dish at the 45-minute mark.
  6. About 15 minutes before tomatoes are done, cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
  7. Remove confit from oven. Discard rosemary sprigs. Gently smash about half the tomatoes and garlic with a fork.
  8. Add hot pasta to the baking dish. Toss with tongs, adding reserved pasta water as needed to create a silky sauce.
  9. Taste and adjust seasoning. Top with torn basil and cheese if using. Serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t rush the oven temperature—low and slow is key. Reserve more pasta water than you think you need. Let the confit rest for 5 minutes before adding pasta. Smash about half the tomatoes for a better sauce. For extra flavor, toast dry pasta in a skillet before boiling.

Nutrition

Keywords: balsamic cherry tomato confit pasta, easy pasta recipe, slow-roasted tomato pasta, vegetarian pasta, Italian pasta

Find it online: https://sparklespoon.com/best-balsamic-cherry-tomato-confit-pasta-recipe-easy/