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Caprese Pasta Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 97 reviews

This fresh and vibrant Caprese Pasta combines al dente spaghetti with juicy cherry tomatoes, creamy bocconcini, fragrant basil, and a hint of lemon juice. Quick to prepare, it features a delightful Italian-inspired medley of flavors enhanced by sautéed garlic and Italian seasoning, making it a perfect light and refreshing pasta dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 12 ounces spaghetti

Sauce and Flavorings

  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Cheese and Herbs

  • 8 ounces fresh bocconcini, drained and halved
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water for later use.
  2. Sauté aromatics: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning, sautéing for about 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes until they are just warmed through.
  3. Toss ingredients: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the tomatoes. Remove the skillet from heat and gently toss the pasta and tomatoes together. Then fold in the halved bocconcini, fresh lemon juice, and chopped basil leaves. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. If the mixture seems dry, add a little reserved pasta water to create a light sauce. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Use fresh bocconcini or fresh mozzarella balls for the best creaminess.
  • Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency as needed.
  • Serve this pasta immediately to enjoy the creamy texture of bocconcini before it melts too much.
  • For a spicier kick, add red pepper flakes while sautéing garlic.
  • Substitute gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten free.

Keywords: Caprese Pasta, Italian pasta recipe, cherry tomato pasta, bocconcini pasta, quick vegetarian pasta, fresh basil pasta, easy dinner recipe