It’s beginning to look a lot like…that busy time of year when regular people become elves, personal shoppers, professional gift wrappers, lighting designers, master chefs…the list goes on and on. Sometimes it feels like creating holiday magic would be a lot easier with the help of an actual magic wand. We can’t offer any supernatural Santa-like abilities, but we do have a gift: a fabulous, festive recipe that takes care of one big holiday meal from start to finish in just 15 minutes. It’s – *cue angels singing* – Christmas Eve Pasta!
It’s hard to say what we love most about this dish, but the ease factor is definitely high on the list. Nobody wants to spend more time with the stovetop than their loved ones at Christmas. As our Food Director, Andrea Lynn, explains: “There’s a tendency to go overboard with menu planning during the holidays. The truth is you don’t need a really complicated recipe with pricey ingredients to make a meal special.” We couldn’t agree more.
Part of the “magic” behind this soon-to-be Christmas classic is ingredients that don’t require much fussing to be delicious. The chunky sauce is bite-sized grape tomatoes sauteed with garlic, store-bought pesto, and a splash of pasta cooking water. That’s it. “The first time I made it, I was really impressed with the balance of the sauce, even though it’s so simple,” says Lynn. “The tomatoes release their juices, which adds a nice contrast to the richness of the pesto.”
Another reason this pasta is destined for holiday greatness: the festivity factor. The combo of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil is a no-brainer when it comes to flavor matches. It just so happens to make an eye-catching addition to the holiday dinner table, too. “The red and green color scheme immediately said ‘Christmas’ to me, so I took that idea and ran with it,” Lynn says.
After adding an extra pop of Christmas color with a sprinkling of fresh basil, the only thing missing is ornaments – so this pasta is decked with mini mozzarella balls, aka ciliegine. Finish with a dusting of grated Parmesan, and you’ve got a 15-minute, Santa-worthy showstopper.
For more tasty holiday recipes, be sure to check out these recipes plus more from our issue online.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Eve Pasta
