Name: Rustic Tomato & Potato Pasta with Crispy Garlic & Olives
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: italian
Ingredients: 400g pasta; 3 large tomatoes (diced); 2 medium potatoes (diced into small cubes); 4 cloves garlic (minced); 1 cup olives (pitted and halved)

Rustic Tomato & Potato Pasta with Crispy Garlic & Olives

A simple yet flavorful Italian-Spanish fusion pasta dish combining tender potatoes, juicy tomatoes, and briny olives with aromatic garlic. This beginner-friendly one-pan meal comes together in under 30 minutes and delivers authentic Mediterranean flavors without any fuss.

30 min

Easy

4 servings

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Taste Profile

Sweet3/10

Salty6/10

Sour4/10

Umami5/10

Spicy1/10

🥄 Texture

Al dente pasta strands paired with tender, slightly creamy small potato cubes; diced tomatoes break down into juicy pockets that coat the pasta. Olives provide firm, chewy bites and the briefly golden garlic gives occasional crisp, toasty fragments.

👃 Aroma

Warm olive oil and golden garlic create an immediate savory, toasty top note, followed by bright, slightly green tomato fragrance. A saline olive brininess and faint peppery finish linger in the background.

🍷 Pairs Well With

Medium-bodied Sangiovese (Chianti) or a dry rosé to match the tomato acidity and cut through the olive brine; alternatively, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc for a white option.

🥗 Side Dishes

Crusty country bread or focaccia for sopping up the sauce; a peppery arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette; roasted or grilled seasonal vegetables (eggplant, zucchini) or a simple Caprese salad as a fresh complement.

Instructions

Fill a large pot with water, add salt, and bring to a boil. Add the diced potatoes and cook for 5 minutes until they start to soften.

Add the pasta to the same pot with the potatoes and cook according to pasta package instructions (usually 8-10 minutes) until both pasta and potatoes are tender. Drain and set aside, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.

In a large pan, heat 3 tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant and golden, stirring constantly.

Add the diced tomatoes to the pan and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add the cooked pasta and potatoes, along with the olives. Toss everything together.

Add 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water to create a light sauce, season with salt and pepper to taste, and stir well. Cook for 1-2 minutes more until everything is heated through and well combined. Serve immediately.