While the "Barefoot Contessa" star's dish only has five main ingredients — angel hair, Parmesan cheese, cherry tomatoes, garlic, and basil — it has one very important step. You need to soak the tomatoes, garlic, and basil in olive oil for four hours. That extra prep resulted in some of the most incredible tomatoes I've ever tasted.
The sauce is made with just lemon zest, butter, olive oil, and minced garlic, which all work together to give the dish a burst of flavor. The sharp Parmesan cheese also adds a nice hint of richness. While I loved how bright and healthy this dish tasted, I would soon discover other "Barefoot Contessa" pastas that were far more memorable.
Summer Garden Pasta. Cover with plastic wrap, and set aside at room temperature for about 4 hours. Just before you’re ready to serve, bring a large pot of water with a splash of olive oil and 2 tablespoons salt to a boil and add the pasta. Cook al dente according to the directions on the package (be careful – it only takes 2 to 3 minutes!).
Ina Garten has released dozens of pasta recipes. Ina Garten with her three-ingredient lemon pasta. From a comforting mac and cheese to the quick pasta, pesto, and peas, you'll find a variety of pasta recipes spread across Garten's 11 cookbooks and her Barefoot Contessa site .