Pasta With Tomatoes, Green Beans & Feta

Total Time: 25 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 1/2 lbs ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
• salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste,plus
• 1 tablespoon salt, for pasta water
• 1 -2 tablespoon olive oil, to taste
• 1 -2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, to taste (optional)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil or 1 tablespoon fresh mint, slivered or chopped
• 2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about 1/2 cup)
• 3/4 lb pasta (fusilli, rigatoni, farfalle or penne)
• 1/2 lb green beans, trimmed and broken in half

Recipe

• 1 start a large pot of water to boil with 1 tbsp.
• 2 salt.
• 3 while water heats, toss tomatoes with garlic, salt, pepper, oil, herbs and vinegar (if using) in a pasta bowl.
• 4 add feta.
• 5 let sit at room temperature 15 minutes or longer.
• 6 taste and adjust seasonings.
• 7 add pasta to boiling water.
• 8 cook 5 minutes.
• 9 add beans.
• 10 keep cooking until pasta is al dente, firm to the bite (see cooking time on package).
• 11 drain, toss with tomato mixture and serve.
• 12 the tomato mixture, without the herbs, can be made hours ahead.
• 13 hold in or out of the refrigerator, but let it come to room temperature before adding herbs and tossing with cooked pasta.