Caprese Tomato Mozzarella Penne (Printer-Friendly)
Penne with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and olive oil, finished with balsamic—ready in 25 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 14 ounces penne pasta
→ Fresh Produce
02 - 9 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
04 - 0.7 ounces fresh basil leaves, torn
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped (optional)
→ Dairy
06 - 7 ounces fresh mozzarella balls, halved or chopped
→ Pantry
07 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
08 - 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze or reduction
09 - Salt, to taste
10 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add penne pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine halved cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, and torn fresh basil leaves.
03 - Add the warm, drained pasta to the bowl. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and gently toss. If the mixture appears dry, incorporate a splash of reserved pasta water.
04 - Carefully fold in fresh mozzarella pieces, allowing them to soften in the warmth of the pasta.
05 - Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add chopped parsley if desired.
06 - Divide onto plates. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and garnish with additional basil leaves, if preferred. Serve warm or at room temperature.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- This pasta comes together in hardly any time but always impresses — you can reveal your secret of letting the ingredients shine.
- Its light enough for lunch yet satisfying as a main when you crave flavors that transport you to a sun-drenched patio.
02 -
- Don’t wait for the pasta to cool before combining — if it’s too cold, the mozzarella won’t get perfectly soft and luscious.
- If you skip the pasta water, you miss out on the silkiness that brings everything together.
03 -
- Warm pasta is the secret to coaxing the best from both the mozzarella and tomatoes.
- Add balsamic glaze at the very end, so it stays bright and doesn’t get lost in the bowl.