This caprese pasta recipe with candy cherry tomatoes, contemporary basil, and creamy mozzarella is cooked multi functional pot! It’s a simple dinner stuffed with contemporary Italian-inspired flavors, prepared in 25 minutes.
Can’t get sufficient of this tomato, basil, and mozzarella combo? Then please hop on over and check out my caprese pork chops and balsamic rooster caprese, too.
I’m a bit 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 deliver collectively tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella round right here, we’ll take it.
When I discovered cherry tomatoes on sale the opposite day, I obtained 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 season!
Why You’ll Love This One Pot Caprese Pasta Recipe
- One pot. Critically, this caprese pasta is the simplest one-pot meal. The substances 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 simple.
- All of the caprese taste. With tender bowtie pasta, plump cherry tomatoes, contemporary basil, garlic, and melty mozzarella, this pasta has all of the contemporary substances we love in a Caprese salad. In pasta type, it’s a fantastic meatless facet dish or vegetarian meal.
- Customizable. After all, in the event you’re not vegetarian, go forward and high your pasta with a juicy marinated rooster or your alternative of protein. This recipe is tremendous adaptable.
- Give the oven the evening 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 must activate the oven.
Components You’ll Want
You actually solely want a handful of substances 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 right down to the recipe card for a printable substances checklist.
- Olive Oil – Select a nice-quality olive oil for taste. I extremely suggest sticking with olive oil, and never swapping for an additional cooking oil, like canola.
- Pasta – I take advantage of farfalle (bow-tie pasta), however you need to use any pasta form you’d like, whether or not it’s shells, penne, fusilli, and so forth. Even lengthy pasta, like spaghetti or linguine, will work right here.
- Cherry Tomatoes – I really like the sweetness of cherry or grape tomatoes. Be at liberty to make use of bigger varieties, like Roma tomatoes, and cube them up, or you possibly can even used canned tomatoes. Simply remember that bigger tomatoes gained’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, in the event you may help 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 contemporary mozzarella (a.okay.a. mozzarella pearls) for garnish. Use partly skim mozzarella to maintain issues on the lighter facet, or you possibly can go for full-fat cheese in the event you want.
How one can Make Caprese Pasta
I’m a BIG fan (large) 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 way of right here.
- Mix the substances. To make this one pot pasta, add all your substances (olive oil, pasta, halved tomatoes, basil leaves, garlic) to a stockpot with water. Season with salt and pepper.
- Prepare dinner. Deliver the pot to a boil, after which simmer for 11-12 minutes. The pasta needs to be tender and a lot of the water needs 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 closing season with S&P, garnish with contemporary basil and contemporary mozzarella balls, and serve. I wish to high the pasta with an additional drizzle of olive oil, too.
Recipe Ideas and Variations
- Save the cooking water. You need to guarantee 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. When you discover that there’s plenty of water left within the pan, you don’t want to avoid wasting all of it. Don’t danger overcooking the pasta to scale back the water. Scoop out or drain off any extra earlier than you add the cheese.
- Gluten Free. When you use gluten-free pasta, remember that 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 contemporary mozzarella. When 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 gentle 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 selfmade parsley pesto or ajvar (Macedonian purple pepper relish, it goes with EVERYTHING!) for much more taste.
Serving Solutions
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 contemporary tomato basil pasta paired with a Campari spritz and a starter of caponata or stuffed grape leaves.
Once I can get my arms on contemporary seafood, I’ll entertain mates with a plate of fritto misto earlier than dishing up plates of caprese pasta topped with grilled rooster or shrimp scampi as a predominant. Summer time meals outdoor don’t get significantly better!
How one can 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 scorching 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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Cut back warmth to a simmer and proceed to cook dinner for 11 to 12 minutes, or till the pasta is totally 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 totally mixed and melted.
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Style the dish for salt and pepper and modify accordingly.
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Garnish with contemporary mozzarella cheese pearls and contemporary 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, in the event you’re pondering of including any additional liquids, like a pasta sauce, it’s gonna shift the quantity of water you’ll want. So, in the event you’re going with some other liquid, you’ll need to reduce on the water. If you’re 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 pair 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 at all times add a bit extra after I style it as soon as it’s finished cooking.
- Correct Storage: Maintain 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 differ in line with the substances and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
