This recipe is good for lunch or appetizers, and can be served hot or cold, though I always go with cold. Just my personal preference.
Vegetarian if you keep out he bacon, vegan if you keep out the cheese. Substitute the pasta for something gluten-free if you like.
Things you need
Whole Tomatoes
Pastina (those lil tiny star pastas)
Parmesan Cheese
Oil and Vinegar (you can also substitute Italian dressing)
Various veggies, chopped up small: carrots, spinach, onion, celery
Nice things
Bacon, chopped up small (not for vegetarians, obviously!)
Smoked Gouda
How it goes together
1. Cook the pastina. Don’t worry too much about the pasta-tomato ratio. Any leftover pasta salad can certainly be eaten apart from a tomato host. Keep in mind pastina doubles when it cooks.
2. Set aside your tomatoes. We’ll get back to them in a minute. While the water is boiling, chop up your veggies. For harder veg like carrots, celery, and onions, throw them right in the pot with the pasta to soften them up a bit.
3. Drain the pasta (and carrots) and throw it in a big ol bowl. Now is the time to get creative! Add all your chopped veggies, a few splashes of the oil and vinegar or dressing,and a whole bunch of shredded Parmesan. You want the salad to have a light, even coat of dressing, with cheese throughout. Go right ahead and add bacon, if that’s your thing. Salt and pepper are an excellent idea as well.
Time to make a decision: Cold Salad or Hot Salad? For Cold, go on to Step 4. For Hot, warm up the oven and skip to Step 5.
4. Throw the salad in the freezer until it’s cold. Stir it every few minutes to chill it faster.
5. Hollow out your tomatoes. Using a paring knife, cut a wide circle around the stem, keeping the knife point towards the center of the tomato. This makes an easily-removable cone. Dump out the seeds and sloppy bits.
6. Your pasta is ready. Your tomatoes are ready. Scoop that delicious concoction into your waiting tomato vessels.
If you chose Cold, You’re Done! Congratulations on your happy healthy snicky snack. If you chose Hot, you still have a lil bit more to do. See why I always make mine cold?
7. Put a slice of Gouda over the top of your tomatoes and throw them in the oven for ten minutes. Ok so it’s not that much more production to choose Hot. I’m just giving you a hard time. You’re Done Too! Now you can eat your happy healthy snicky snack.
