Tomato Basil Brie Pasta

I first had this years ago at a friends house before I was married and barely knew how to cook.  I thought she was a gourmet cook and swore this was the yummiest dish!  Surprisingly, it’s very simple and fresh and I still make it often to this day…

One thing I love about this dish (besides it’s delicious and simple) is that most of the work is done ahead of time…I love dishes where the prep is ahead of time because I always seem to be in a rush at “crunch time”.

Ingredients

  • 3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 4 medium tomatoes, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 ounces Brie cheese, room temperature, cut into small chunks
  • 1 cup torn basil leaves
  • 12 ounces (or 1 box) Penne pasta or a box of spaghetti, cooked and drained

Instructions

  1. Combine olive oil, garlic, basil, brie cheese, and tomatoes in a large bowl (add salt and pepper), cover and set aside for several hours.
  2. Toss in cooked pasta when ready to eat and mix gently.  The cheese starts to melt with the warm pasta and all the flavors have infused together for a fresh taste of summer!

Perfect Pairing: creamy Chardonnay (La Crema)