Roasted Grapes & Pasta

This is one of those recipes that, as soon as I saw it, I said "I have to try that!"  I was intrigued.  I had never thought of roasting grapes before, nor combining them with pasta to make a side dish. I was thinking, well, this will either be really good or a complete disaster. And I had to find out.

Incidentally, I do the same kind of thing when clothes shopping, too.  Sometimes when I see an article of clothing that's ... what's the word I'm looking for? ... different, I am drawn to try it on. Many, many, many-a-time my mom has said to me something to the effect of "You're really going to try that on?" Yup. And I always reply, "Well, it's either going to look great or completely terrible!"  Every now and then I've ended up with some really fabulous clothes this way. Quite often, it's lead to hystically funny laughing sessions in store dressing rooms!

Anyway, when I see a recipe that's a combination of flavors that's ... different, I'm usually drawn to try it. What's the harm in trying, right?  

So I set about roasting my first grapes, which is really quick and easy, by the way.  All you need are some seedless grapes, olive oil, and a little salt.

"Grapes - meet your friends olive oil & salt."

Take your grapes, oil 'em up, sprinkle on some salt, and pop them in the oven.  They'll come out looking like this:

Roasted grapes

Make a simple white wine sauce with chopped onion and some fresh thyme.

Simmering white wine sauce

Then toss together your cooked pasta, wine sauce, roasted grapes, and some feta cheese crumbles. 

Toss it all together

And there you have it! - Roasted Grapes & Pasta ... a nice little side dish that I think pairs especially well with chicken or pork.  Are you intrigued like I was??

Roasted Grapes & Pasta
Source:  Adapted from a friend

Ingredients

8 oz. uncooked bowtie pasta  (I used whole wheat penne, because I couldn't find whole wheat bowtie.  But I think this dish would look nicer with bowtie-shaped pasta!)
3 c. seedless grapes
Olive oil

1/2 tsp. sea salt  (I used table salt, but will use sea salt next time.  I like sea salt better.)
1 c. chopped onion
1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
1/2 c. chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 c. dry white wine
1 c. crumbled feta cheese

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Toss grapes with about 2 teaspoons of olive oil and the 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Roast 5-7 minutes, or until the first few grapes begin to split. Remove from oven and let stand while you finish preparing the pasta and the white wine sauce.

2.  Meanwhile, cook pasta in salted water according to package directions; drain.

3.  Heat about 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and thyme and cook until onion is softened, about 4 minutes. Pour in broth and wine; boil gently for 5 minutes.

4.  Combine pasta and sauce then toss with roasted grapes and crumbled feta.

Enjoy!

This post is linked with Friday Potluck hosted by EKat's Kitchen.

This is one of those recipes that, as soon as I saw it, I said "I have to try that!"  I was intrigued.  I had never thought of roasting grapes before, nor combining them with pasta to make a side dish. I was thinking, well, this will either be really good or a complete disaster. And I had to find out.

Incidentally, I do the same kind of thing when clothes shopping, too.  Sometimes when I see an article of clothing that's ... what's the word I'm looking for? ... different, I am drawn to try it on. Many, many, many-a-time my mom has said to me something to the effect of "You're really going to try that on?" Yup. And I always reply, "Well, it's either going to look great or completely terrible!"  Every now and then I've ended up with some really fabulous clothes this way. Quite often, it's lead to hystically funny laughing sessions in store dressing rooms!

Anyway, when I see a recipe that's a combination of flavors that's ... different, I'm usually drawn to try it. What's the harm in trying, right?  

So I set about roasting my first grapes, which is really quick and easy, by the way.  All you need are some seedless grapes, olive oil, and a little salt.

"Grapes - meet your friends olive oil & salt."

Take your grapes, oil 'em up, sprinkle on some salt, and pop them in the oven.  They'll come out looking like this:

Roasted grapes

Make a simple white wine sauce with chopped onion and some fresh thyme.

Simmering white wine sauce

Then toss together your cooked pasta, wine sauce, roasted grapes, and some feta cheese crumbles. 

Toss it all together

And there you have it! - Roasted Grapes & Pasta ... a nice little side dish that I think pairs especially well with chicken or pork.  Are you intrigued like I was??

Roasted Grapes & Pasta
Source:  Adapted from a friend

Ingredients

8 oz. uncooked bowtie pasta  (I used whole wheat penne, because I couldn't find whole wheat bowtie.  But I think this dish would look nicer with bowtie-shaped pasta!)
3 c. seedless grapes
Olive oil

1/2 tsp. sea salt  (I used table salt, but will use sea salt next time.  I like sea salt better.)
1 c. chopped onion
1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
1/2 c. chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 c. dry white wine
1 c. crumbled feta cheese

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Toss grapes with about 2 teaspoons of olive oil and the 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Roast 5-7 minutes, or until the first few grapes begin to split. Remove from oven and let stand while you finish preparing the pasta and the white wine sauce.

2.  Meanwhile, cook pasta in salted water according to package directions; drain.

3.  Heat about 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and thyme and cook until onion is softened, about 4 minutes. Pour in broth and wine; boil gently for 5 minutes.

4.  Combine pasta and sauce then toss with roasted grapes and crumbled feta.

Enjoy!

This post is linked with Friday Potluck hosted by EKat's Kitchen.