Lunch is such a challenge for me. You know, i often forget to eat lunch because i get working and by the time i realize what time it is – it is time for dinner, or on the other hand sometimes when i get home earlier and want a nice fresh meal it seems so difficult to come up with something quick to make. i find that having soup or pasta salad in the fridge is the only solution to my dilemma. The best part of pasta salad is you can make a huge batch of it and eat it all week for lunch. there is enough going on in the dishes so you don’t get sick of them.
Ingredients
- 4 small tomatoes (about 1 pound), roughly diced
- 1 cup black or green olives, sliced
- 1/3 cup firmly packed cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
- 3 small heads garlic
- Olive oil
- 1 pound medium pasta shells
- 15 ounces whole or skim milk ricotta
- 3/4 cup whole milk yogurt
- 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Heat the oven to 400°F. Slice the tops off the garlic heads.
- Drizzle with olive oil and place in the center of a large square of foil and fold to seal.
- Place the packet in a baking pan and roast for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the garlic is very soft. Remove, and let cool.
- Cook the pasta according to directions. Drain and remove to a large bowl.
- Toss with a little olive oil, and let cool while making the dressing.
- Whisk the ricotta and yogurt together until lightened and smooth, and add in all of the roasted garlic - squeezing the soft garlic out of each clove.
- Whisk vigorously, until the garlic is well-incorporated.
- Whisk in the salt and season generously with black pepper.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Pour the ricotta mixture over the pasta and add the tomatoes, olives, and basil.
- Toss to coat. Taste and season further if needed with salt and pepper.
- Serve slightly warm or chilled.
- The texture is best when served immediately, but the garlic flavor improves overnight, so either way it's good!
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https://foodietale.com/salads/roasted-garlic-olive-and-tomato-pasta-salad/