Meatless Mediterranean Pasta

Meatless Mediterranean Pasta with tomatoes, artichoke, garlic, and lemon. A fast, healthy pasta recipe that’s easy to make in 20 minutes. Don’t skimp on the olive oil and parsley on this dish, both bring a lot of flavor. Keep the recipe meatless or serve it with chicken or shrimp. Add a side salad and a glass of wine... τελειότητα! Serves 6  Calories: 267 a serving

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon kosher salt + 1 teaspoon divided 
6 ounces whole wheat angel hair pasta
4 cloves garlic
2 cups cherry tomatoes 
1 can (14 oz) quartered artichoke hearts
1 can (6 oz) whole pitted black olives
3 tablespoons good-quality olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4-1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup (about 1 lemon)freshly squeezed lemon juice 
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped 

Directions:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon salt. Cook the pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain. While the water boils and pasta cooks, prep your vegetables and remaining ingredients: mince the garlic; halve the cherry tomatoes; drain and roughly chop the artichokes; drain and slice the olives in half. Once the vegetables start cooking, the recipe goes quickly, so you want to be ready. 

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the tomatoes, garlic, the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant and the tomatoes begin to break down and release some juices into the oil, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the pasta to the skillet and toss to coat. Add the artichokes and olives. Drizzle the lemon juice over the pasta. Continue tossing and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until warmed through. If the pasta seems too dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper, as desired. Remove from heat and sprinkle with Parmesan and parsley. Toss and serve. Yum Yum!