Orecchiette Bruschetta Pasta Recipe
This refreshing Orecchiette Bruschetta Pasta is a vibrant and simple Italian-inspired dish featuring al dente orecchiette pasta tossed with juicy cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic paste, and zesty lemon juice. Perfect for a light lunch or a summer dinner, this no-cook sauce pasta salad bursts with fresh flavors and comes together quickly with minimal cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Pasta Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 lb orecchiette pasta
Sauce and Toppings
- 4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4–6 cloves garlic, grated into a paste
- 2 lemons, zested and juiced
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, thinly sliced or torn
- Pinch of sea salt
- Optional: pinch of red chili flakes for heat
Instructions
- Prepare the Tomato Marinade: Slice the cherry tomatoes in half and place them in a bowl. Add the grated garlic, olive oil, and the juice from the lemons. Optionally, add the zest from one lemon for extra zing. Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt and mix well. Allow the mixture to sit and macerate at room temperature while cooking the pasta to let the flavors meld.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and generously season it with a heavy pinch of coarse salt. Add the orecchiette pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Then drain the pasta in a colander and immediately rinse thoroughly under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Transfer the cooled pasta into a large mixing bowl. Add the marinated cherry tomatoes along with all their juices. Toss everything together to combine evenly.
- Add Fresh Basil and Adjust Seasoning: Stir in the fresh basil leaves. Taste the pasta salad and adjust the seasonings by adding more lemon juice, olive oil, or sea salt as preferred. Optionally, sprinkle a pinch of red chili flakes for a bit of heat. Serve immediately or chilled.
Notes
- Pasta Shapes: Traditional southern Italian orecchiette, or “little ears,” are ideal for this dish, but you may substitute with small shells, conchigliette, shellbows, cavatelli, fusilli, penne, or even gnocchi as desired. Make sure to cook the pasta in plenty of salted water until just al dente and rinse under cold water to stop cooking.
- Garlic Preparation: For maximum flavor without harshness, grate the garlic cloves into a fine paste using a microplane zester. Mix it with the tomatoes, lemon juice, salt, and olive oil and let it sit while the pasta cooks; this mellows the garlic’s bite while infusing the sauce with its vibrant aroma.
Keywords: Orecchiette, Bruschetta Pasta, Italian Pasta Salad, Cherry Tomato Pasta, Fresh Basil Pasta, Lemon Garlic Pasta
Find it online: https://hannahdelgado.com/orecchiette-bruschetta-pasta-recipe/
