If you're on the hunt for a simple dish that's perfect for a weeknight meal, look no further than this Tomato and Mozzarella Pasta With Basil. This easy pasta recipe, which we simply call spaghetti caprese, is a surefire way to get the whole family around the table, enjoying every last bite. Trust us, it's the kind of dish that turns an ordinary night into an Italian feast!
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Holiday in Italy On A Plate
This Caprese pasta is the ultimate easy pasta dish that brings the flavours of a classic Caprese salad straight to your plate. It's like taking a mini holiday to Italy without leaving your kitchen, and all you need are a few good quality ingredients.
Simple, inexpensive, and unbelievably tasty, this amazing recipe is perfect for those nights when you want dinner to be a breeze. Just toss it all together, throw in some extra basil, and you've got a meal that's as comforting as it is delicious. Buon appetite!
Ingredient Notes
This is one of those recipes where simple ingredients are allowed to speak for themselves, so make sure to get high quality extra-virgin olive oil, full-fat mozzarella and great tomatoes! Here's everything you'll need:
- olive oil: extra virgin.
- garlic cloves: minced or thinly sliced.
- onion: we used a small brown onion, but it can be replaced with a large shallot.
- chopped tomatoes: we used tinned chopped tomatoes, but you can achieve the same result by chopping fresh tomatoes into smaller pieces, but make sure to use very ripe and juicy tomatoes.
- tomato paste: also known as tomato puree.
- spaghetti or linguine: you may use whole wheat pasta if preferred.
- ball of mozzarella: torn into bite-size pieces or pearl mozzarella.
- fresh basil leaves.
A Little Something Extra?
Tasty additions are a great way to make this pasta recipe your own. If you fancy some extra veggies, stir in some halved cherry tomatoes or roasted bell peppers.
For added protein, try some shredded chicken or squid rings to your tomato mozzarella pasta.
For extra flavour, add a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar to the tomato sauce alongside some Italian seasoning.
Step-By-Step Method
1. Add olive oil to a large frying pan and set it on low heat. Add the finely chopped onions and cook for 5-6 minutes, until softened but not browned.
2. Add the garlic, stir, and cook for another minute on low heat.
3. Finally tip in chopped tomatoes and tomato paste, then season with salt and black pepper and stir. Increase the heat slightly to medium-low heat and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then let it simmer for 10-15 minutes until tomato sauce reduces by about a third.
4. In the meantime, cook your pasta in a pot of salted boiling water following the instructions on the packet. Make sure to keep your pasta al dente.
5. Before draining your pasta, check your tomato mixture. If it has reduced too much, just add 1-2 tablespoons of starchy pasta water and stir.
6. Add the drained cooked pasta to the sauce. Give it a good stir. Stir in the basil leaves and mozzarella (reserve some for decoration), drizzle the top with extra virgin olive oil and serve immediately!
Recipe FAQs
In short, because it is not meant to. Fresh mozzarella is stirred into the pasta last minute and doesn't have enough time or heat to melt, but it should turn into gooey soft cheese.
My vote goes to long noodle-type pasta, like linguine, spaghetti or tagliatelle - I simply find them extremely satisfying to eat! But penne pasta, farfalle or bow-tie pasta will work just as well.
What To Serve Spaghetti Caprese With?
Tomato and Mozzarella Pasta is a great simple dish that pairs well with almost anything. We love it with a nutritious green salad on the side, like our Courgette Ribbon and Fresh Spinach Salad, or Pea Shoot and Edamame Bean Salad.
However, pasta caprese goes just as well with some garlic bread or slices of Sourdough Focaccia with Olives.
More Simple Italian Pasta Recipes
Classic Italian recipes, especially pasta dishes make easy dinners that never disappoint on busy weeknights or dinner parties! We can always count on these quick but flavoursome pasta recipes below:
Tomato and Mozzarella Pasta With Basil (Spaghetti Caprese)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced or thinly sliced
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 400 g (1.65 cups) 1 tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste optional
- 250 g (8.82 oz) spaghetti or linguine
- 125 g (4.41 oz) ball of mozzarella torn into bite-size pieces
- 10 g (0.42 cups) basil leaves
Instructions
- Add olive oil to a large frying pan and set it on low heat. Add the finely chopped onions and cook for 5-6 minutes, until softened but not browned.
- Add the garlic, stir and cook for another minute.
- Finally tip in chopped tomatoes and tomato paste, then season with salt and pepper and stir. Increase the heat slightly and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then let it simmer for 10-15 minutes until tomato sauce reduces by about a third.
- In the meantime, cook your pasta following the instructions on the packet. Make sure to keep your pasta al dente.
- Before draining your pasta, check your tomato sauce. If it has reduced too much, just add 1-2 tablespoons of starchy pasta water and stir.
- Add the drained pasta to the sauce. Stir in the basil leaves and mozzarella (reserve some for decoration) and serve immediately!
Nutrition
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