Tomato-Sunflower Cream Pasta
The sunflower is beautiful!
Native to North America and first worked by the hands of Native Americans, the smoky-earthy seed is my favorite. It also happens to be attached to my favorite flower, the sunflower. I’m fascinated by its form; how it’s cultivated and its rich history.
They also seem to be accessible virtually everywhere, now. Sunflower seeds are an inexpensive way to add depth to a dish – to mention an incredible cream.
Have you looked into the best ways to eat plants that contain phytic acid, when ripe? The easiest way to reduce phytic acid is to soak. Soaking your seeds, beans and legumes helps reduce phytates!
This pasta sauce is infused with roasted tomatoes, shallot and garlic combined with the sunflower cream to make a flavorful experience!
Tomato-Sunflower Cream Pasta
Ingredients
- 325 g tomatoes (about 7 small-medium) *
- 250 g (8.8 oz) dried pasta *
- ½ cup water + some for boiling pasta
- 6 garlic cloves
- 2 shallot
- 2 ½ tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- Sprinkle of chili flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- In a baking dish add tomatoes, shallot and garlic
- Drizzle with 1 ½ tbsp olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper
- Add baking dish to the oven and allow to cook, uncovered, for 20 minutes
- Soak your sunflower seeds by either long/quick soak method * (see notes for instructions on both)
- Cook pasta according to the instructions (al dente)
- Reserve ½ – 1 cup pasta water for the sauce, when you drain the pasta
- In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil on low flame
- Add the roasted tomatoes, shallot and garlic (skin removed), saute for a minute
- Add in ½ cup reserved pasta water, stir to combine
- To a blender add soaked sunflower seeds, ¾ cup fresh water, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, lemon – blend until creamy
- Into the skillet of pasta and sauce, add a dollop of the sunflower cream – stirring to combine *
- Sprinkle with chili flakes
- Cover with a lid and cook until sauce is warmed and pasta is cooked to your liking
- Top with extra sunflower cream, chili flakes, fresh tomato and herb of choice
