For the last couple of summers, I get very nostalgic for Italy around this time. The daughter had spent most of the summer at an international dance workshop in Florence. I flew over towards its end to see her final performance and afterwards to travel around Italy and France with her. Lost Shoes Risotto and First Night in Florence Spaghetti were among the offspring of those travels.
When I got home, one of the first things I did was go looking for a large bowl that reminded me of those in which we’d had great, gorgeous salads – everything was in season – and wonderful, simple pastas. It needed to be deeper than a pasta plate, but smaller than a conventional mixing bowl. I had a surprisingly difficult time finding just the right one. I finally found the perfect, classic white bowl at T. J. Maxx. For $3.99. Sold.
This simple, Italian-inspired pasta is perfect for a warm summer evening. If you can step outside and pick a couple of handfuls of little tomatoes, snip some deep green leaves from a basil plant, lucky you.
As for the pasta, typically, a flat pasta would be used here, but I use angel hair because oh mio dio, it’s hot. Angel hair cooks so fast that very little time is spent generating any more heat than absolutely necessary.
Have all your ingredients prepared, as everything comes together very quickly.
ANGEL HAIR WITH GARLIC, TOMATOES, AND BASIL
Serves 2, or 1 with luscious leftovers
Extra-virgin olive oil – be generous: a good 2 to 3 ounces
3 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes
8 ounces of angel hair
Sea or kosher salt and grinds of pepper
Red pepper flakes
Fresh basil leaves cut into chiffonade
Parmesan cheese
After you’ve rinsed the tomatoes, cut them in half from top to bottom. They’ll cook faster this way.
Yes, I know the trick of sandwiching the tomatoes between two plastic lids, then carefully running a knife through the center. The problem is that no two come out the same thickness. Some at best have a sliver shaved off one side. So I halve mine the old-fashioned way. A kind friend gave me a tomato knife which slices through them as if through butter. It is shockingly sharp, which forces me to slow down, creating a sort of meditation on tiny tomatoes.

Mmm hmmm, that’s a flat-bottomed rock that I use for smashing garlic. It’s also vaguely foot-shaped, but that’s a story for another time
Smash and peel the garlic cloves, then mince them well.
Chiffonade (French for “ribbon”) a few leaves of fresh basil. As much as you like.
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Read about how much water and how much salt here. Add about half of the package of angel hair. Set a timer for 4 minutes.
Over medium heat, warm a skillet large enough to hold both the sauce and the pasta. Add the olive oil. When it shimmers, or “ribbons,” add the garlic. Cook it gently until it is nicely fragrant.
Add the tomatoes and red pepper flakes.
If the pan is spattery, reduce the heat a bit. The tomatoes want to cook very gently. When the pasta is almost done, season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
When the timer sounds, use tongs to transfer the pasta to the skillet. Add a ladle of the pasta cooking water. Carefully toss everything together with the tongs, and let the pasta cook for a minute more.
Lift the pasta into bowls, and spoon the sauce over it. Garnish with some strands of beautiful basil and some shavings of Parmesan.
Pour a glass of chilled Italian rosé. Twirl some pasta on a fork. What does the scene you’ve set conjure up for you?
Personally, I’m imagining sitting in a little trattoria in the daughter’s San Niccolò neighborhood, which graces the right bank of the languid, sultry Arno. The heat of the day is yielding to evening’s cooling touch. And I’m clinking glasses with the beautiful, graceful young woman whose mother I am so proud to be.
this just warms my heart. i think i’ll have the same for dinner for the same reasons.
Baci, baci!
Conjures up bliss to me! Utter bliss!!
And to me! I only wish we could share it in person.
This is one of my favorite ways to enjoy pasta. Simple and allowing all the flavors to come through. Hope you’ve been enjoying a wonderful summer!
It’s been an insanely busy one at work, Susan, but all is going well. Summer just seems to be going by so fast! And how are you?
Seeing this post makes me nostalgic also, I remember when the daughter was in Italy and you went and joined her and when you first introduced us to the delicious First Night In Florence Spaghetti. This pasta dish is perfect for the hot summer days and I totally agree, Angel Hair cooks quickly and is the way to go.
Thank you,sweet Suzanne. It’s so hot tonight that I’m having leftovers snipped up and tossed into a salad. The daughter made the same thing for dinner last night, as she, too, describes herself as feeling a deep ache beginning in June.
I love angel hair pasta, and its delicate way of making room for other flavors. This is fresh and buoyant. I think my former students who are coming for dinner tomorrow are going to be served this.
I only wish I could be there among you all. Thank your for your kind words.
Thank you, Bevi; I hope you all enjoy it.