Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Penne with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese

In case you're wondering who's lucky enough to have the best husband in the world, it's me.  In addition to being kind, witty, and incredibly handsome, he puts up with my culinary shenanigans and even enjoys most of the crazy meals I cobble together.  Every once in a while, though, when I ask him what he thought of dinner, he pauses for a bit too long.  This is invariably followed with, "Well, Erin, I can appreciate that this meal is technically good, but it's just not my preference."

Well said, husband.  He gets his point across honestly, but in a way that doesn't hurt my feelings.  Did I mention that he was smart?

99% of the time, these "technically good" dinners involve tomatoes.  The husband just doesn't like them.  Maybe I'm delusional, but I'm convinced there is some magic tomato recipe he'll enjoy.  So I keep forcing him to eat doggone tomatoes.  He hasn't liked any of them.  I should really just give it up.

Anyway, Therese, of dinner co-op fame, has the same tomato issue with her husband.  He doesn't like them either!  Recently, when both of our hubbies were otherwise engaged, we got together to make a dinner filled to bursting with these glorious, savory fruits.

We thoroughly enjoyed the easy and delicious pasta dish below, and I think it benefited our husbands, too.  Since we got our fix, we won't be pestering them with tomatoes for at least a few more weeks.  Although, you never know.  Maybe this is the magic tomato recipe the husband will enjoy!

Penne with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese
Serves: 4-6

1 medium shallot, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon olive oil, divided
2 pounds cherry tomatoes, halved
Salt and pepper
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
3 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon sugar (optional; use if your tomatoes are tart)
1 pound whole wheat penne pasta
4 cups baby spinach or arugula (or a combination)
6 ounces goat cheese, crumbled

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a small bowl, combine 1/2 teaspoon olive oil and shallot.  In a separate bowl, combine tomatoes with remaining 3 tablespoons oil, salt and pepper to taste, red pepper flakes, vinegar, garlic cloves, and (if your tomatoes are tart) sugar.  Place tomatoes in a single layer on a large rimmed baking sheet, and spread shallots over tomatoes.  Roast for 35 minutes without stirring.

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain pasta and return to pot.  Stir in spinach and/or arugula until it's wilted by the hot pasta.  Pour the tomatoes and any accumulated juices from roasting into the pasta; stir gently to combine.  Serve with goat cheese sprinkled on top.    

19 comments:

  1. YUM! I love roasted tomatoes...and your pasta dish looks fabulous!

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  2. lovely combination. the addition of soft goat cheese is just divine.

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  3. Roasted tomatoes make everything better! My husband won't eat tomatoes either...I have to smoosh them in chili, he actually picks them out of my mom's chili!

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  4. This sounds delicious and light! Lovely pictures too!

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  5. Nothing beats a roasted tomato for boosting flavor and getting the most out of dismal, winter globes.!

    the pasta looks just perfect!

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  6. Mmmm those tomatoes look so rich. You just keep on making those tomato recipes. He will come around eventually:)

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  7. That looks SOOOO amazing!! Seriously wow...

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  8. Pasta sauces made with cherry tomatoes are so wonderful - they're still flavourful and sweet and tomato-ey, even in the dead of winter. Love the addition of goat cheese, too!
    PS - I hear you on the tomatoes. With my BF, it's cooked greens... I keep trying in the hopes of finding that magical recipe, but no luck so far.

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  9. This looks so good! My husband doesn't like tomatoes either. I like to freak him out by picking up a tomato and biting into it like an apple.

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  10. Love the addition of goat cheese in this dish! Yum!

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  11. I made something very similar .. but the goat cheese at the end .. sounds amazing!

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  12. Nikki...I can just imagine what my hubby would do if I bit into a tomato like an apple! HA! And the goat cheese MAKES the recipe. So delish. If anybody knows of a good tomato recipe that non-tomato-lovers enjoy, do share!

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  13. I love pasta with chunky tomato sauce like this! I may have to make this soon! Thanks!

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  14. Roasted tomatoes are delicious!! Your entire meal sounds so good!

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  15. lovely looking dish...I have the same issue with my hubby but it revolves around cooked spinach...too bad he is out numbered because the 15 year old loves cooked spinach!!

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  16. I have to admit..I do not care for RAW tomatoes...these roasted ones I can dig along with sun dried..just not raw. On a sandwich,salad or otherwise. This dish I would try cause it looks awesome and the 'maters are roasted. Heck...I make my own marinara so why would I not like this especially with goat cheese..

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  17. Lo-mo, if you're getting your 15-year-old to eat spinach, you're definitely doing something right in the kitchen!

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  18. Wow, that pasta dish looks fantastic. I adore roasted tomatoes. Of course, I love them raw as well. My Hubby stands in the crowd with yours though. I can't get him to eat them unless they're so finely diced he can't tell they're there. Ah well. We suffer; we persevere.

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  19. Had to join in this blog post as guess what, my hubbie doesn't like them undisguised either or anything too 'tomatoey', so my daughter and I will save this recipe just for us, yummy.

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