Hot Caprese Pasta
Hot Caprese Pasta, is a Fast and Easy Creamy Italian Pasta dish made with fresh tomatoes, melted fresh mozzarella and Spaghetti. The perfect anytime Pasta Recipe.
Today I’m sharing with you a Fast and Easy Summer Pasta Recipe. I just happened to make it with Spaghetti because it is my favourite Pasta, and whenever I can, I like to slip it in. The Italian prefers short ridgy pasta, he says it holds the sauce better and pasta without ridges is just plain slimy!
In Italy Summer screams Gelato, tasty Fresh Veggie Pasta Salads, Cold Rice Salads and especially anything Caprese, from the Classic Caprese Salad to a Pizza Caprese and of course this Creamy Caprese Pasta.
What are the ingredients in Caprese Pasta?
Made with the traditional Caprese Ingredients, fresh tomatoes, fresh basil and mozzarella. But hot, tossed together until the mozzarella just begins to melt, then topped with some freshly grated Parmesan Cheese if you wish.
How to make a Hot Caprese Pasta:
- In a large pot of boiling salted water cook pasta until al dente.
- In a large frying pan on medium heat, add oil, onion, garlic, spices and tomatoes, fry until soft and lightly browned.
- Add cooked pasta, a little pasta water and mozzarella, toss gently until the mozzarella starts to melt.
- Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan Cheese if desired.
A friend of mine made this Hot Caprese Pasta Dish for lunch one day and it was so good that I had to make it myself.
What is the best Pasta to use for this Creamy Caprese?
To tell the truth I would say your favourite pasta would work with this dish, whether a short pasta such as penne or rigatoni or a long pasta such as spaghetti or linguine. You decide.
What is the origin of the Caprese Salad?
A very popular story is that a patriotic mason loved to add the colours of the Italian flag in his sandwich. Which of course were basil, tomatoes and mozzarella, which he stuffed into a soft loaf of bread to eat during his lunch hour.
However, evidence shows that the Caprese Salad was invented in the 1920s. The dish made its first appearance on the menu of the Quisisana Hotel in Capri.
So if you would like a change on the Class Caprese why not give this Hot Caprese Pasta a try. Let me know what you think. Buon Appetito!
Hot Caprese Pasta
Ingredients
- 2½ cups cooked pasta
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced onion
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 14-16 cherry or grape tomatoes (halved)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 5 more or less fresh basil leaves
- ½ – 1 teaspoon oregano
- hot pepper flakes to taste
- 7 ounces fresh mozzarella cubed
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling salted water cook pasta (short or long) until al dente.
- In a large frying pan on medium heat, add the oil, onion, garlic, spices and tomatoes, fry until soft and lightly browned.
- Add cooked pasta, ½ ladle of pasta water and mozzarella, toss gently until completely combined on medium heat for 1-2 minutes until mozzarella starts to melt. Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan Cheese if desired. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
How Much Pasta To Use
Rule of thumb is 2 ounces / 57 grams of dry pasta per person. Although you could increase to 2½ ounces / 75 grams. This will yield approximately 1¼ – 1¾ cups cooked.How To Store The Pasta
Any leftover pasta should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated. It will keep for up to 2-3 days. It can be reheated in a pan with a little water.Nutrition
Updated from May 25, 2017.
When do you add the fresh basil?
Hi Mary, in the recipe instructions it does say to add the oil, onion, garlic and spices and basil is a spice. 🙂 Hope that helps. Take care!
How much dry pasta is 250g cooked? Thanks
Hi Jackie, rule of thumb is 2 ounces / 57 grams of dry pasta per person. Although you could increase to 2 1/2 ounces / 75 grams. This will yield approximately 1 1/4 – 1 3/4 cups cooked. Hope that helps. Take care.
Can I cook the sauce (without the mozzarella in advance for a day or two
Hi Madalyn, yes you can be sure to cover well and refrigerate. I hope you enjoy it. Take care!
can i make with fresh cut up roma tomatoes? i don’t have cherry or grape
Hi Katie, yes that will work too. I hope you like it.
Gread delicious recipe thank you
Hi Hans, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it. Take care.
OMG! We had this last night and it was a huge hit!
Thanks so much Cheryl, so glad you enjoyed it. Have a great weekend.
Cold rainy day today and I was planning on having a Caprese Salad.. but I fancied something hot and this was perfect! So simple and not heavy with “sauce”. Light and comforting! This is getting put in my recipe book! X
Hi Beca, thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it. We are looking forward to some rain here. Take care.
Very delicious. When I made this dish, it fit three servings.
HI Bianca, thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it. Have a wonderful Sunday.
I’m wondering if I prepared this a little bit before serving it would be ok to keep it warm and tasty in the crockpot I would like to take it to a work pot luck.
Hi Brandy, I don’t really think that would work, I imagine the pasta would get mushy and there is nothing worse than mushy pasta. Sorry.
This and all of your recipes look so delicious! I will try this tonight. One of the (many) things I miss about Italy is the fresh mozzarella! CAn we just substitute with cows milk Mozarella- the soft kind.
Thank You!
Hi Patricia, thanks so much and yes the cows milk mozzarella will work. Hope you like it.
This is a wonderful summer dish! I completely agree with you … I also prefer this with spaghetti. 🙂 The simplest dishes are always the best ones. 🙂
Hi Rosa, thanks so much and have a wonderful weekend.
YAAAS!!! This and a scoop of gelato and I am in summer heaven! Pinning!
Hi Kristen, thanks and the best thing about summer is Gelato! Have a great holiday weekend.