Penne with Cherry Tomatoes, Garlic, and Basil

Name: Penne with Cherry Tomatoes, Garlic, and Basil
Yield: Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients: 1 , medium shallot, sliced thin; 1/4 cup, olive oil; 3 pints, cherry tomatoes (2 pounds), each tomato halved pole to pole; , Table salt; 1/4 teaspoon, red pepper flakes; 1/4 teaspoon, ground black pepper; 1 1/2 teaspoons, sugar, or to taste; 1 tablespoon, balsamic vinegar; 3 large cloves, garlic, sliced thin; 1 pound, penne pasta; 1/4 cup, coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves; 2 ounces, grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 cup)

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Appears in Cook's Illustrated March/April 2005

Have you ever tried to make a great sauce with off-season supermarket tomatoes? Cherry tomatoes are your best bet, but even then the resulting sauce can be uninspired.

SERVES4 to 6

TIME1¼ hours

Penne with Cherry Tomatoes, Garlic, and Basil

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

For a wintertime fresh tomato sauce recipe with summertime flavor, we started with cherry tomatoes and then added more flavor by tossing them with a little sugar as well as salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, vinegar, and garlic slivers. We th...

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