Mediterranean / Vegan / Vegetarian
Are you ready to experience the best pesto-caprese pasta ever? With tender noodles coated in a flavorful sauce and accented with quick roasted tomatoes and just-right baby mozzarella, this dish will tantalize your taste buds! You can enjoy it as is for meatless Wednesday or add some shrimp, grilled lemon chicken, or Italian baked chicken for even more indulgence.
This delicious recipe is the perfect summer bowl. Combining pasta with juicy tomatoes and creamy mozzarella (or burrata!), all tossed together in a homemade, vibrant basil pesto - it truly can't get any better!
Serves: 6 Servings - Prep Time: 10 min - Cook Time: 30 min
Ingredients
- 2 lb fresh halved Small Tomatoes
- Trapani Sea Salt and Black Pepper
- 2 minced Garlic Cloves minced
- Papa Vince Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb Papa Vince Busiate Pasta - Durum or Tumminia
- 1 cup Basil Pesto Sauce - Pesto recipe
- 6 oz fresh Baby Mozzarella
- Fresh basil for garnish
How to make
(1) Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F with a rack positioned in the center.
(2) In a bowl, mix together tomatoes with sea salt, black pepper, garlic and extra virgin olive oil for an exquisite flavor. Pour onto a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 35 minutes or until tomatoes are tender but not too soft. Once done, remove from the oven!
(3) While the tomatoes are roasting, cook your pasta in boiling water as per package instructions until al dente (around 10 minutes). Then, reserve half a cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
Learn how to Cook Pasta Like an Italian
(4) Move the cooked busiate pasta to its original bowl (used for the tomatoes). Pour in some pesto and combine until all of it is evenly coated with sauce. If necessary, add a drizzle of pasta water to enable easy mixing. Once done, sample and enhance the flavor by adding only a pinch of sea salt or black pepper if needed.
(5) Gently combine the roasted tomatoes, mozzarella and warm pasta in a bowl. Add some fresh basil for an extra burst of flavor, if desired, and a drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Serve immediately while still warm!
Serve with Papa Vince Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Papa Vince Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a nutritious and flavorful oil that packs a punch of flavor. It's full of polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that help protect the body from oxidative stress. In addition to the polyphenols, this oil contains Vitamin E at an impressive 17% of the daily value, making it a great source of this important vitamin. The peppery kick you get from consuming Papa Vince EVOO is your assurance that it has all these powerhouse nutrients, so you know you're getting the very best for your health.
The polyphenols can also help support heart health by helping to reduce inflammation. They can also help promote healthy digestion! And since extra virgin olive oil is high in monounsaturated fats and essential fatty acids, it helps keep cholesterol levels under control and boosts overall heart health.
What not to do...
- Do NOT heat Pesto! Pesto is best served fresh and never heated, otherwise it will lose its delightful hue and flavor.
- Do not combine the pesto and your pasta in the hot cooking pot. To save time and effort, transfer the cooked, drained pasta to a large bowl before adding in your delicious pesto then tossing it together. The heat from the cooked noodles will be sufficient enough to warm up and infuse flavor into each strand of pasta!
About Papa Vince Ancient Grain Pasta
- ANCIENT GRAIN - the same grain used before the Mass Production Revolution
- GOOD SOURCE OF FIBER & PROTEINS - Ancient grains are a complete source of naturally occurring proteins & prebiotic fiber (soluble & insoluble). Supports anti-inflammatory diets.
- CLEAN INGREDIENTS - Semolina flour from Durum Wheat and PH balanced spring water. It does not contain eggs
- MAKE SURE TO USE WHOLE-GRAIN PASTA! Whole-grain pasta is the healthier option since it contains more dietary fiber, micronutrients such as manganese, selenium and copper; while also boasting fewer calories than refined pastas.
- MAKE PASTA HEALTHIER - When incorporated into a balanced diet, pasta can be beneficial. Those seeking to make healthy choices should opt for whole-grain varieties, which offer fewer calories and carbohydrates but more fiber and nutrients. The type of topping you choose is just as critical in creating nutritious dishes; aim for lean proteins or fresh vegetables rather than creamy sauces or processed meats.
- SUPPORTS ANTI INFLAMMATORY DIETS - Easier to digest - less bloating - contains nutrients unlike refined or enriched pastas
- PERFECT SHAPE FOR SAUCE TO CLING IN - Sicilian Corkscrew-shaped pasta! Its specially designed shape allows for a hearty cling, ensuring you won't miss out on any of those delicious flavors.
About Italian Cuisine
Italian cuisine is a unique and complex combination of rich flavors that provide an unforgettable dining experience. This Italian dish includes the use of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), pasta, and basil pesto - all staples in the Italian kitchen.
Recently, people have begun to incorporate more creative ingredients into traditional recipes to create new flavors and textures. This adds a level of creativity to the mix, while still preserving the core elements that make Italian food fantastic.
The combination of ingredients create an incredibly powerful flavor profile with each bite containing a symphony of different tastes that tantalize the palette and leave you wanting more. Whether it’s a freshly made bowl of pasta or caprese salad topped with EVOO, Italian cuisine is sure to be both delicious and memorable.
References:
Is Pasta Healthy? - Healthline.com - Written by Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD on November 15, 2017. Date Accessed: 03/08/2023
Link to article
