Blistered cherry tomato malfatti
While malfatti may translate to “roughly made”, these irregular little noodles are anything but a perfect match to the juicy, summery cherry tomatoes and the fresh, herbaceous basil pesto. This is pasta that screams summer!
SERVES
4
TO
6
Ingredients
Pasta
- 3 cups (710 ml) flour, plus extra if needed
- 4 eggs
- 8 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) salt
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil
Pesto
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup (60ml) pine nuts, toasted
- 2 cups basil (2 bunches)
- 1/2 cup (120ml) finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup (60ml) finely grated pecorino cheese
- 1/2 cup. (120ml) olive oil
- Salt, to season
Blistered Tomatoes
- 2 pounds (907g) cherry tomatoes, mixed colours
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) olive oil
- Salt and black pepper. to season
- 1 lemon, juiced
Garnish
- Parmesan cheese
Directions
Pasta
- On a clean work surface, pour flour into a mound.
- Make a well in the middle and add salt, oil, eggs, and yolks.
- Using a fork, whisk the eggs and slowly incorporate the flour until a wet sticky dough forms.
- Knead for five minutes. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Cut dough into quarters. One-piece at a time, use a rolling pin to roll into a thin sheet. Cut the sheet with a sharp knife into long one-inch (two and a half centimetres) wide, ribbons.
- Transfer to a baking sheet and sprinkle with more flour.
Pesto
- In a food processor, combine the garlic, pine nuts, basil, parmesan, pecorino, and season with salt. Pulse until chopped.
- While processing, slowly streams in the olive oil until paste forms.
Blistered Tomatoes
- Toss tomatoes with oil, salt, and pepper and reserve.
Serve
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and preheat a cast iron pan until very hot.
- Cook the pasta for three minutes, until al dente.
- While the pasta is cooking, add cherry tomatoes to the very hot cast iron pan.
- Allow tomatoes to char and blister, for around 20 to 30 seconds, then remove from the pan.
- Spritz with the lemon juice.
- Drain the pasta and transfer to a bowl, add the pesto and toss to combine.
- Transfer to a serving dish and cover with the blistered cherry tomatoes.
- Garnish with parmesan cheese.
- Serve immediately. Enjoy!
