This caprese pasta recipe with candy cherry tomatoes, contemporary basil, and creamy mozzarella is cooked multi function pot! It’s a straightforward 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 take a look at my caprese pork chops and balsamic hen caprese, too.
I’m somewhat obsessive about caprese (pronounced “kah-preh-zay”), from caprese hen nachos to caprese stuffed mushrooms, to not point out the basic Caprese salad. If there’s a chance 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 acquired impressed to make this caprese pasta. That is such a straightforward 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. Significantly, this caprese pasta is the best one-pot meal. The components prepare 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, contemporary basil, garlic, and melty mozzarella, this pasta has all of the contemporary components we love in a Caprese salad. In pasta type, it’s an excellent meatless aspect dish or vegetarian meal.
- Customizable. After all, should you’re not vegetarian, go forward and high your pasta with a juicy marinated hen or your selection 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! All the pieces comes collectively on the stovetop, so there’s no must activate the oven.
Components You’ll Want
You actually solely want a handful of components to make this straightforward pasta, which is only one thing more that makes it nice for on a regular basis meals. I’ve included my notes beneath. Scroll all the way down to the recipe card for a printable components record.
- 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 should utilize any pasta form you’d like, whether or not it’s shells, penne, fusilli, and many others. Even lengthy pasta, like spaghetti or linguine, will work right here.
- Cherry Tomatoes – I 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 may even used canned tomatoes. Simply remember the fact that bigger tomatoes received’t maintain their form as nicely.
- Basil and Garlic – Contemporary basil leaves are a should, even higher in the event that they’re from the backyard. Please don’t substitute dried basil right here, should you will help it. The identical goes for garlic. You possibly can 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 aspect, or you may go for full-fat cheese should you choose.
Methods to Make Caprese Pasta
I’m a BIG fan (enormous) 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 straightforward steps, which we’ll stroll by way of 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 must be tender and many of the water must be decreased.
- 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 last 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 make it possible for 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. For those who discover that there’s plenty of water left within the pan, you don’t want to save lots of 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. For those who use gluten-free pasta, remember the fact that it behaves in a different 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 regulate for these variations.
- Use contemporary mozzarella. For those who 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 wonderful 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 Recommendations
I like this caprese pasta served with kid-friendly garlic breadsticks and a aspect of inexperienced salad on weeknights. On weekends, nothing transports you to the Mediterranean shoreline like a lightweight and contemporary tomato basil pasta paired with a Campari spritz and a starter of caponata or stuffed grape leaves.
After I can get my fingers on contemporary seafood, I’ll entertain buddies with a plate of fritto misto earlier than dishing up plates of caprese pasta topped with grilled hen or shrimp scampi as a principal. Summer time meals outside don’t get a lot better!
Methods 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 straightforward to heat up, they usually’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 produce to a boil.
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Cut back warmth to a simmer and proceed to prepare dinner for 11 to 12 minutes, or till the pasta is totally cooked and water decreased. Stir sometimes. 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 regulate 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, should you’re considering of including any additional liquids, like a pasta sauce, it’s gonna shift the quantity of water you’ll want. So, should you’re going with another 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 regulate 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 swap 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 achieved 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 could fluctuate in line with the components and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
