This caprese pasta recipe with candy cherry tomatoes, recent basil, and creamy mozzarella is cooked multi function pot! It’s a simple dinner stuffed with recent Italian-inspired flavors, prepared in 25 minutes.
Can’t get sufficient of this tomato, basil, and mozzarella combo? Then please hop on over and take a look at my caprese pork chops and balsamic rooster caprese, too.
I’m somewhat obsessive about caprese (pronounced “kah-preh-zay”), from caprese rooster nachos to caprese stuffed mushrooms, to not point out the basic Caprese salad. If there’s a possibility to convey collectively tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella round right here, we’ll take it.
When I discovered cherry tomatoes on sale the opposite day, I received impressed to make this caprese pasta. That is such a simple weeknight pasta as a result of it’s all cooked in the identical pot. It’s the quickest, most scrumptious dinner you’ll make this summer time!
Why You’ll Love This One Pot Caprese Pasta Recipe
- One pot. Critically, this caprese pasta is the simplest one-pot meal. The components cook dinner all collectively (even the pasta), so not solely does it give these tomato-basil flavors loads of time to mingle, however clean-up is fast and straightforward.
- All of the caprese taste. With tender bowtie pasta, plump cherry tomatoes, recent basil, garlic, and melty mozzarella, this pasta has all of the recent components we love in a Caprese salad. In pasta kind, it’s an incredible meatless facet dish or vegetarian meal.
- Customizable. After all, if you happen to’re not vegetarian, go forward and prime your pasta with a juicy marinated rooster or your alternative of protein. This recipe is tremendous adaptable.
- Give the oven the night time off. I LOVE this caprese pasta within the summertime, and you’ll, too! The whole lot comes collectively on the stovetop, so there’s no have to activate the oven.
Substances You’ll Want
You actually solely want a handful of components to make this simple pasta, which is only one thing more that makes it nice for on a regular basis meals. I’ve included my notes under. Scroll all the way down to the recipe card for a printable components checklist.
- Olive Oil – Select a nice-quality olive oil for taste. I extremely suggest sticking with olive oil, and never swapping for one more cooking oil, like canola.
- Pasta – I exploit farfalle (bow-tie pasta), however you should utilize any pasta form you’d like, whether or not it’s shells, penne, fusilli, and so on. Even lengthy pasta, like spaghetti or linguine, will work right here.
- Cherry Tomatoes – I really like the sweetness of cherry or grape tomatoes. Be happy to make use of bigger varieties, like Roma tomatoes, and cube them up, or you’ll be able to even used canned tomatoes. Simply needless to say bigger tomatoes received’t maintain their form as effectively.
- Basil and Garlic – Recent basil leaves are a should, even higher in the event that they’re from the backyard. Please don’t substitute dried basil right here, if you happen to can assist it. The identical goes for garlic. You’ll be able to adapt the quantity of cloves to style.
- Mozzarella Cheese – Freshly shredded mozzarella cheese and balls of recent mozzarella (a.ok.a. mozzarella pearls) for garnish. Use partly skim mozzarella to maintain issues on the lighter facet, or you’ll be able to go for full-fat cheese if you happen to favor.
Learn how to Make Caprese Pasta
I’m a BIG fan (big) of caprese pasta within the summertime, however this dish is so easy and so good that I’ll make it year-round. It takes only one pan, 25 minutes, and some simple steps, which we’ll stroll by right here.
- Mix the components. To make this one pot pasta, add your entire components (olive oil, pasta, halved tomatoes, basil leaves, garlic) to a stockpot with water. Season with salt and pepper.
- Prepare dinner. Carry the pot to a boil, after which simmer for 11-12 minutes. The pasta ought to be tender and a lot of the water ought to be lowered.
- Add the cheese. Take the pan off the warmth and let it stand for a minute or two. That is necessary in order that the cheese doesn’t curdle within the warmth! Afterward, stir in your shredded mozzarella.
- Serve. Give the pasta a ultimate season with S&P, garnish with recent basil and recent mozzarella balls, and serve. I wish to prime the pasta with an additional drizzle of olive oil, too.
Recipe Ideas and Variations
- Save the cooking water. You wish to be sure that a few of the pasta water stays within the pan after cooking. The starches within the water emulsify with the shredded mozzarella cheese because it melts, making a silky, flavorful sauce.
- Keep away from a watery pasta, although. In case you discover that there’s a variety of water left within the pan, you don’t want to avoid wasting all of it. Don’t threat overcooking the pasta to cut back the water. Scoop out or drain off any extra earlier than you add the cheese.
- Gluten Free. In case you use gluten-free pasta, needless to say it behaves in another way throughout cooking, typically being starchier and increasing greater than conventional pasta. For 16 ounces of pasta, including an additional cup of water ought to assist modify for these variations.
- Use recent mozzarella. In case you can’t discover small mozzarella pearls, however you discover a big ball of mozzarella, chop the bigger ball into small cubes.
- Add onion. Finely diced delicate onion, like shallot or Vidalia onion, would style superb on this pasta.
- Add balsamic glaze. To actually make this caprese pasta pop, give your plates a drizzle with balsamic discount earlier than serving.
- Extra toppings. Spoon over home made parsley pesto or ajvar (Macedonian purple pepper relish, it goes with EVERYTHING!) for much more taste.
Serving Recommendations
I really like this caprese pasta served with kid-friendly garlic breadsticks and a facet of inexperienced salad on weeknights. On weekends, nothing transports you to the Mediterranean shoreline like a light-weight and recent tomato basil pasta paired with a Campari spritz and a starter of caponata or stuffed grape leaves.
After I can get my fingers on recent seafood, I’ll entertain associates with a plate of fritto misto earlier than dishing up plates of caprese pasta topped with grilled rooster or shrimp scampi as a fundamental. Summer season meals open air don’t get significantly better!
Learn how to Retailer and Reheat Leftover Pasta
- Refrigerate. Retailer any leftover caprese pasta in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 2-3 days. Leftovers are simple to heat up, and so they’re additionally scrumptious when loved chilly, like a caprese pasta salad.
- Reheat. To reheat this caprese pasta, heat parts within the microwave or a saucepan on the stovetop till sizzling all through. If wanted, sprinkle the pasta with a little bit of water or drizzle over some olive oil to assist loosen it up a bit on the reheat.
Extra One Pot Pasta Recipes
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In a stockpot, mix water, olive oil, pasta, halved tomatoes, basil leaves, garlic, salt and pepper. Prepare dinner over excessive warmth and convey to a boil.
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Scale back warmth to a simmer and proceed to cook dinner for 11 to 12 minutes, or till the pasta is completely cooked and water lowered. Stir often. Take away from warmth and let stand for two minutes.
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Stir within the shredded mozzarella cheese; stir till completely mixed and melted.
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Style the dish for salt and pepper and modify accordingly.
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Garnish with recent mozzarella cheese pearls and recent basil leaves.
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Serve instantly.
- Liquid: The quantity of water we’re utilizing is spot on for the pasta kind we’re working with. Now, if you happen to’re pondering of including any additional liquids, like a pasta sauce, it’s gonna shift the quantity of water you’ll want. So, if you happen to’re going with some other liquid, you’ll wish to in the reduction of on the water. In case you are utilizing gluten-free pasta, you’ll have so as to add extra water, as much as 1 cup, or modify as wanted.
- Water: If you wish to increase the flavour, right here’s a tip: as an alternative of utilizing all water, combine it up with 2 cups of vegetable broth and a couple of.5 cups of water. It’s a easy change that may actually amp up the style.
- Salt: I begin with about 3/4 teaspoon salt for the water after which all the time add a bit extra after I style it as soon as it’s executed cooking.
- Correct Storage: Preserve leftovers in a sealed container within the fridge for two to three days. Reheat servings within the microwave or on the stovetop in a pan till heat.
Serving: 6 ounces | Energy: 382 kcal | Carbohydrates: 60 g | Protein: 13 g | Fats: 9 g | Saturated Fats: 2 g | Ldl cholesterol: 5 mg | Sodium: 75 mg | Potassium: 360 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 4 g | Vitamin A: 535 IU | Vitamin C: 18.8 mg | Calcium: 106 mg | Iron: 1.6 mg
Dietary information is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values might fluctuate in accordance with the components and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
