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Burst Heirloom Tomatoes Over Pasta with Shrimp in vintage bowl

Burst Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes over Pasta & Shrimp

Create a Quick Sauce with Local Cherry Heirloom Tomatoes to Toss With Pasta and Shrimp.
Tomatoes “burst” – fall slightly apart with all of their natural sweet juices.

Burst Heirloom Tomatoes Over Pasta with Shrimp in vintage bowl
Burst Heirloom Tomatoes create a sauce with tons of flavor cooked in a skillet – add pasta and shrimp
Burst Heirloom Tomato Sauce in skillet
Burst Heirloom Tomato Sauce in a skillet – its base: shallots and garlic – cherry tomatoes are added until they “burst.” Finish with plenty of parsley and basil leaves.

Your choice – use the sauce with or without the shrimp. Vegan if you omit the cheese (and of course the shrimp.) I have used Gluten Free Pasta from Italy which stays al dente!

Ahhhh Summer! It’s prime tomato season ~ I’m loving all sizes and especially the sweetness of the smaller sized varieties.
From the tiniest “candyland” variety to a larger cherry tomato – “indigo sun” – I can’t stop eating and cooking with them! A host of colors, coupled with a flavor spectrum that squeezes flavor into every little bite.

Tomatoes are a simple pleasure, and one of my favorite things to eat.
I have a whole RECIPE CATEGORY “Everything Tomatoes” dedicated to them! 

Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes
Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes

Varieties in this recipe: Sun Gold, Black Cherry, Red Cherry, Pear, Indigo Sun and Candyland (the tiniest.)

Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes are grown in a variety of colors and shapes, from elongated to round to plum; even pear shaped.

The sweetest cherry tomato is the Sun Gold Cherry Tomato, the perfect, bite-size golden beauty.
Black Cherries are large, dark purple-brown grapes with a rich flavor and incredible sweetness.
Indigo Sun’s flavor is on the sweet side with a low acid content – and their yellow skins with purple streaks are striking.
Yellow Pear Tomatoes are very sweet with a mild flavor.
Candyland Red Tomatoes (Currant tomatoes) are much smaller in size than cherry-type and are ready to “pop” in your mouth straight from the garden.

Burst Heirloom Tomatoes with Pasta and Fresh Basil
Burst Heirloom Tomatoes with Pasta and Fresh Basil – shrimp is optional
Tossing the heirloom cherry tomato "sauce" with the pasta ribbons
Tossing the cherry tomato “sauce” with the pasta ribbons

Cherry tomatoes are the small, round guys with thin skins that squirt juice everywhere when you bite into them. They’re super sweet and have a high water content, and they come in many vibrant colors.

Sautéed with fresh herbs to toss into the burst cherry tomato sauce
Shrimps sautéed with fresh herbs to toss into the dish
Adding shaved Parmesan to the burst tomato pasta dish for a creamy texture and nutty flavor
Adding shaved Parmesan for a creamy texture and nutty flavor
My favorite Gluten Free Pasta from Italy! La Fabbrica Della Pasta
My favorite Gluten Free Pasta from Italy! La Fabbrica Della Pasta

What are Heirloom Tomatoes?

  • Heirloom Tomatoes are tomatoes that are passed from generation to generation within a family, usually because they have desirable characteristics that the growers wish to maintain.
  • “Heirloom Tomatoes” are in sharp contrast to the more bland hybrid tomatoes most typically found at the supermarkets.
  • Known to be sweeter from lack a genetic mutation that gives tomatoes a uniform red color at the cost of the fruit’s taste. They are many times “imperfect” looking as they and not disease resistant.
  • Heirloom tomatoes are expensive because they are not mass-produced. With fewer available (than hybrids), their price typically stays high.
    These types of tomatoes “breed true,” which means that if you plant an heirloom tomato seed, it will grow into a plant that bears tomatoes that look just like the parent.
  • The lighter colors have the lowest acid of any of the tomato varieties.
  • Best selection is not in the supermarket! Buy at farmers’ markets, farm stands, on the grower’s farm or at specialty markets that sell local varieties.
  • The variety of an “Heirloom” must be at least 50 years old.
  • Never refrigerate tomatoes. Store at room temperate on your counter away from direct sunlight.
    Buy some ripe for the first few days, and some firmer for days to come.
  • Some of the best tasting larger varieties to look out for are:
    Aunt Ruby’s German Green, Cherokee Purple, Brandywine, Green Zebra and Great White.
  • These types of tomatoes “breed true,” which means that if you plant an heirloom tomato seed, it will grow into a plant that bears tomatoes that look just like the parent.

Enjoy this fabulous Summer recipe!
Karen

Burst Heirloom Tomatoes with Pasta & Basil

Burst Heirloom Tomatoes over Pasta & Shrimp

Create a Quick Sauce with Local Cherry Heirloom Tomatoes to Toss With Pasta and Shrimp. Tomatoes "burst" - fall slightly apart with all of their natural sweet juices.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
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Ingredients

  • 6 cups heirloom cherry tomatoes multi colored, stemmed; washed & dried
  • 3/4 pound pasta* or gluten free pasta

For the Shrimp:

  • 1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 18 whole shrimp 16-20 size, peeled and deveined
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 teaspoons fresh parsley coarsely chopped

Cherry Tomato Sauce

  • 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup shallots coarsely chopped
  • 6 cloves fresh garlic peeled, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes use 1/2 t. if you like spicy
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh herbs such as thyme leaves & fresh parsley leaves
  • 3 tablespoons pasta water saved from cooking pasta
  • 1/3 cup fresh basil leaves cleaned, dried; packed
  • 1/2 cup parmesan reggiano cheese shaved

Instructions

  • Cook shrimp first (if using.) Add 1 tablespoon oil to a large 14" skillet. Set heat to medium- low. When hot add the shrimp, cook on the first side until a touch golden, about 3 minutes. Turn over with tongs and cook until almost cooked through, one minute. Remove to a plate, add 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme and 2 teaspoons parsley and mix in; set aside. (Shrimp will be tossed in the warm sauce.)
  • To the skillet, add 5 tablespoons EVOO, set heat to low. Add the shallots and garlic. Give a big stir and cook 5 minutes until softened but not colored. Add hot pepper flakes, stir in.
    Bring a large pot of water to a boil, boil pasta al dente and drain - saving at least 3 T. pasta water.
  • Keep heat on medium-low, add all the tomatoes, sea salt & pepper - give a big stir and cook until tomatoes have burst (they will crack and release some juice.) This will take from 6 - 8 minutes depending on the size of the cherry tomatoes**. If the tomatoes are stubborn and do not burst, try raising the heat to medium and cover.
    Add 1 T. fresh herbs; stir well.
  • To Finish the Dish: Add the drained pasta and 3 T. pasta water to the skillet of tomatoes. Give a big stir, taste for seasonings - add shrimp (if using) and toss to warm through.
    Toss in basil and parmesan cheese. Portion the pasta out of the skillet. Enjoy!

Notes

*I have used this Gluten Free Pasta: La Fabbrica Della Pasta; e' mafaldine. 
** Hint: If some of the tomatoes are much larger than others, add these first for three minutes, then the rest. 
This recipe may not be reproduced without the consent of its author, Karen Sheer.
COURSE: First Course & Sides, Main Course
CUISINE: American
KEYWORDS: burst heirloom cherry tomato sauce, heirloom cherry tomatoes
Nutrition Facts
Burst Heirloom Tomatoes over Pasta & Shrimp
Amount per Serving
Calories
401
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
18
g
28
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Cholesterol
 
10
mg
3
%
Sodium
 
578
mg
25
%
Potassium
 
431
mg
12
%
Carbohydrates
 
52
g
17
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
5
g
6
%
Protein
 
11
g
22
%
Vitamin A
 
965
IU
19
%
Vitamin C
 
38
mg
46
%
Calcium
 
136
mg
14
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Burst Heirloom Tomatoes Over Pasta with Shrimp in vintage bowl

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