This caprese pasta recipe with candy cherry tomatoes, contemporary basil, and creamy mozzarella is cooked multi function pot! It’s a simple dinner crammed 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 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. Significantly, this caprese pasta is the best one-pot meal. The elements 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, contemporary basil, garlic, and melty mozzarella, this pasta has all of the contemporary elements we love in a Caprese salad. In pasta kind, it’s an ideal meatless aspect dish or vegetarian meal.
- Customizable. In fact, in case you’re not vegetarian, go forward and prime your pasta with a juicy marinated hen 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! All the things comes collectively on the stovetop, so there’s no must activate the oven.
Elements You’ll Want
You actually solely want a handful of elements 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 elements checklist.
- Olive Oil – Select a nice-quality olive oil for taste. I extremely advocate 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 use 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 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 take into account 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 case you will help it. The identical goes for garlic. You may adapt the quantity of cloves to style.
- Mozzarella Cheese – Freshly shredded mozzarella cheese and balls of contemporary mozzarella (a.ok.a. mozzarella pearls) for garnish. Use partly skim mozzarella to maintain issues on the lighter aspect, or you may go for full-fat cheese in case you favor.
The right way 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 straightforward steps, which we’ll stroll by means of right here.
- Mix the elements. To make this one pot pasta, add your entire elements (olive oil, pasta, halved tomatoes, basil leaves, garlic) to a stockpot with water. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook dinner. Deliver the pot to a boil, after which simmer for 11-12 minutes. The pasta must be tender and many of the water must 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 prefer to prime the pasta with an additional drizzle of olive oil, too.
Recipe Ideas and Variations
- Save the cooking water. You need to guarantee that a number 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 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. For those who use gluten-free pasta, take into account 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 alter 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 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 Ideas
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.
Once I can get my fingers on contemporary seafood, I’ll entertain pals with a plate of fritto misto earlier than dishing up plates of caprese pasta topped with grilled hen or shrimp scampi as a essential. Summer season meals outdoor don’t get significantly better!
The right way 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, 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. Cook dinner over excessive warmth and produce 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 totally cooked and water lowered. 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 alter 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 sort we’re working with. Now, in case you’re pondering of including any further liquids, like a pasta sauce, it’s gonna shift the quantity of water you’ll want. So, in case you’re going with another liquid, you’ll need to in the reduction of 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 alter as wanted.
- Water: If you wish to increase the flavour, right here’s a tip: as a substitute 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 all the time add a bit extra after I style it as soon as it’s performed cooking.
- Correct Storage: Hold 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 data is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values could range in keeping with the elements and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
