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Orecchiette with Cherry Tomatoes, Marjoram, and Ricotta Salata





Total Time
45 mins

For this summery pasta, Berkeley chef and cooking teacher Samin Nosrat cooks down half of the tomatoes into a savory jam, then adds fresh ones at the end. “I like to layer flavors, to have two levels of deliciousness.” If you can’t find ricotta salata, fresh ricotta works well, too–just drain it and stir in some salt.

Fresh pasta: Orecchiette with Cherry Tomatoes, Marjoram, and Ricotta Salata (1015)




Thomas J. Story
  Sea salt
  About 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
 1 to 2 tsp. chopped whole dried red chiles or red chile flakes
 2 garlic cloves, minced
 2 pts. mixed yellow and red cherry tomatoes, halved
 2 pounds Homemade Orecchiette, or 1 1/2 lbs. store-bought*
 2 tablespoons fresh marjoram or oregano leaves
 4 ounces ricotta salata cheese, crumbled
Step 1
1

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt generously.

Step 2
2

Heat a large frying pan over medium heat; swirl in 2 tbsp. oil. Add onion and a pinch of salt. Cook until tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. It's okay if onion picks up color, but don't let it burn; add a splash of water if you need to. Stir in chile and garlic; cook 1 minute.

Step 3
3

Add half of tomatoes and cook until jammy, stirring often, about 10 minutes. "Let them cook until they collapse and start making syrupy bubbles," says Nosrat.

Step 4
4

Boil orecchiette until tender to the bite, 7 to 10 minutes if fresh, 15 to 20 if dried.

Step 5
5

Scoop out pasta and add to pan, along with remaining tomatoes and half of marjoram. If pasta looks dry, add a little oil and pasta water. If you like, stir in some ricotta salata. Spoon into bowls and top with ricotta and remaining marjoram.

Step 6
6

*Because store-bought pasta is thinner than homemade, you get more pieces per pound.

Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving
Calories 433Calories from Fat 21
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 11g17%

Saturated Fat 4g20%
Cholesterol 3.5mg2%
Sodium 233mg10%
Total Carbohydrate 67g23%

Dietary Fiber 4.6g19%
Protein 14g29%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.