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Ina Garten Summer Garden Pasta Salad Recipe

Ina Garten Summer Garden Pasta Salad Recipe

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4.5 from 81 reviews

Ina Garten’s Summer Garden Pasta Salad captures the spirit of the season with juicy cherry tomatoes, fragrant basil, and a garlicky olive oil marinade tossed with delicate angel hair pasta and a shower of Parmesan. It’s the ultimate easy, elegant summer salad—fresh, colorful, and bursting with flavor—perfect for weeknight dinners or outdoor gatherings.

  • Total Time: 40 minutes (includes minimum marinating time)
  • Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

Tomato Marinade

  • 900 g (32 oz) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 6 tbsp garlic cloves, minced
  • 18 large fresh basil leaves, julienned
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Pasta

  • 454 g (1 lb) angel hair pasta

Finishing Touches

  • 1 1/2 cups (6 oz) Parmesan cheese, grated, plus extra for serving
  • Extra fresh basil leaves, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Create the Tomato Marinade: In a large bowl, combine the halved cherry tomatoes, olive oil, minced garlic, julienned basil leaves, red pepper flakes, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Toss gently to mix everything well. Cover with plastic wrap and let this fragrant mixture marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours. The longer the flavors mingle, the more delicious your salad will be.
  2. Cook the Angel Hair Pasta: When you’re ready to assemble, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the angel hair pasta and cook just until al dente according to package directions. Drain well but do not rinse—the hot pasta will absorb the marinade beautifully.
  3. Assemble the Salad: Immediately, add the hot, drained pasta to the bowl of marinated tomatoes. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and toss everything gently until the cheese melts and coats the pasta, and the marinade gets soaked up by the noodles. Use a large spoon to ensure you scoop up all the garlicky tomato juices.
  4. Finish with Fresh Basil and Serve: Add a handful of extra fresh basil leaves and give the salad a final gentle toss. Taste, adjust the seasoning if needed, and top with extra Parmesan before serving. Enjoy your salad warm or at room temperature, or chill it for a refreshing, make-ahead summer dish.

Notes

  • For deeper flavor, marinate the tomatoes closer to the full 4 hours.
  • Substitute angel hair with spaghetti or linguine if needed—just adjust the cook time accordingly.
  • Good-quality olive oil and Parmesan elevate this salad’s taste.
  • For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta.
  • Leftovers taste great and can be served cold the next day.
  • Author: Sophia
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Side-dishes
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American, Italian-inspired
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
  • Calories: 480
  • Sugar: 5g
  • Sodium: 590mg
  • Fat: 22g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 57g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 15g
  • Cholesterol: 18mg

Find it online: https://sophiasplate.com/ina-garten-summer-garden-pasta-salad-recipe/