Penne Pasta with Roasted Fennel, Cherry Tomatoes, and Black Olives

This pasta was really good with lots of flavor, and I was able to use up a little bit of the huge rosemary plant in my backyard (I also grow oregano, so this dish was perfect!).

Penne Pasta with Roasted Fennel, Cherry Tomatoes, and Black Olives

Cooking Light

1/2 pound fennel bulb
1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon extravirgin olive oil
8 ounces uncooked penne (about 2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (3 ounces) freshly grated pecorino Romano cheese (I used Parmesan)

Preheat oven to 450°.
Cut fennel bulb in half lengthwise; discard core. Chop the fennel into bite-sized pieces. Combine fennel, olives, rosemary, oregano, and tomatoes in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle fennel mixture with pepper; drizzle with olive oil. Toss well to coat. Bake fennel mixture at 450° for 30 minutes or until fennel is tender, stirring once.
Prepare pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain; place in a large bowl. Add fennel mixture and salt, and stir to combine. Add cheese; toss to combine.

4 servings