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 hen caprese, too.
I’m a bit of obsessive about caprese (pronounced “kah-preh-zay”), from caprese hen nachos to caprese stuffed mushrooms, to not point out the traditional 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 season!
Why You’ll Love This One Pot Caprese Pasta Recipe
- One pot. Severely, this caprese pasta is the best 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 an incredible meatless facet dish or vegetarian meal.
- Customizable. In fact, in case you’re not vegetarian, go forward and high your pasta with a juicy marinated hen 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! Every thing 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 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 beneath. Scroll all the way down to the recipe card for a printable substances 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 need to 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 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 take into account that bigger tomatoes received’t maintain their form as properly.
- 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 may also 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’ll be able to go for full-fat cheese in case you desire.
Methods to 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 via right here.
- Mix the substances. To make this one pot pasta, add your whole substances (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 ought to be tender and many of the water ought to 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 ultimate season with S&P, garnish with contemporary basil and contemporary mozzarella balls, and serve. I prefer 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 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 quite a lot of water left within the pan, you don’t want to save lots of all of it. Don’t danger 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 gentle 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 crimson pepper relish, it goes with EVERYTHING!) for much more taste.
Serving Options
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 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 arms on contemporary seafood, I’ll entertain associates with a plate of fritto misto earlier than dishing up plates of caprese pasta topped with grilled hen or shrimp scampi as a fundamental. 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 simple 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. 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 decreased. 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 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 kind we’re working with. Now, in case you’re considering 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 every other liquid, you’ll need 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 alter as wanted.
- Water: If you wish to enhance 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 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 all the time add a bit extra after I style it as soon as it’s achieved 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 offered as courtesy. Values might differ based on the substances and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
