Single Girl Pasta
A long, long time ago, when I was single and lived alone, I first made this dish. I combined some of my favorite ingredients (goat cheese, black olives, garlic, pasta, tomatoes, pine nuts) to create what is now one of my favorites. When I had the money, I would add shrimp to the dish, which naturally makes it even better.
I have never written this recipe—I always adapt the quantity to the number of people eating. This should feed four. So here goes…
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 pound spaghetti or angel hair
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 teaspoons (or tablespoons if you prefer) minced garlic
4 large tomatoes, diced
Optional: ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
1-2 tablespoons pesto (I buy jarred pesto at Costco and keep it in the freezer. Alternatively, use fresh or dried basil.)
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
Salt and black pepper to taste
½ cup Kalamata olives, cut in half
4 ounces goat cheese
1 pound peeled shrimp
¼ cup pine nuts, toasted
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
Bring a large pot of water to boil to cook the pasta. Add the kosher salt. Cook pasta according to package directions.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil on medium in a large skillet. Add the garlic and sauté until the garlic begins to brown. Immediately add tomatoes, pesto, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper. Cook the tomatoes until they soften. Add the olives and goat cheese and stir. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and mix, reserving pasta water. If the sauce is too dry, add as much as 1 cup pasta water and incorporate. Add the shrimp and cook until they are pink, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in pine nuts, top with parsley, and serve.
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