Rigatoni Caprese Pasta
A rigatoni caprese pasta loaded with fresh vegetables, fresh basil, and pearls of mozzarella cheese!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 pt. cherry tomatoes
- 8 ounce(s) short pasta noodles, rigatoni cooked and drained (reserve ¼ cup pasta water)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced or finely sliced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup vegetable broth, or chicken broth
- 4 to 5 Tbsp. basil, fresh, chiffonade
- 1 to 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- 4 ounce(s) mozzarella pearls
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet with tall sides over low heat. When the skillet is hot, add the olive oil and tomatoes. Adjust the heat slightly to low-medium, but not so high that the oil pops. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until the tomatoes begin to soften and blister. Use a wooden spoon to press gently on the tomatoes and smash them flat. The soft insides will mix the olive oil. While the tomatoes soften, prepare the pasta.¼ cup olive oil1 pt. cherry tomatoes
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain, making sure to reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water, set aside.8 ounce(s) short pasta noodles
- After the tomatoes have softened and blistered, add the salt, pepper, and garlic. Continue to cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute until the garlic becomes fragrant. Pour the broth, and stir to combine. Increase the heat to medium and allow the mixture to simmer until the liquid is reduced by half, about 7 to 8 minutes.4 garlic clovesSalt and pepper¼ cup vegetable broth
- Remove from heat, and toss with the cooked pasta noodles, balsamic vinegar, and fresh basil. If the noodles appear dry, add a little bit of the reserved pasta water. Add the mozzarella pearls last. Serve with additional fresh basil and mozzarella pearls if desired. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Enjoy hot or cold.4 to 5 Tbsp. basil1 to 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar4 ounce(s) mozzarella pearls
Notes
Nutrition
Some people think vegetarian dishes can’t possibly be filling and hearty. I used to think that way too. However, when you have to start eating a certain way, you learn to make the best of it.
That includes adding tons of vegetables to your diet. Fortunately, Kim and I know how to cook. Take for instance our caprese flatbread. It’s loaded with fresh ingredients, is incredibly tasty, and is vegetarian.
In the past, our rigatoni caprese pasta used to include chicken. But, you can add different flavors to a dish to replace the meat.
For example, using a little chicken broth and balsamic vinegar will help you forget all about the missing protein. So, shall we get started?
How to make rigatoni caprese from scratch?
First, you’ll need a saute pan with a tall rim. Once you have that, place it over low heat. After that, when the pan is warm, pour in the oil and toss in the tomatoes.
Increase the heat slightly and let the tomatoes cook for about 6-minutes. Use a wooden spoon to crush the them. At this point, while the tomatoes cook, prepare the rigatoni per the box instructions.
It’s important to reserve about 1/4-cup of the pasta water for the caprese pasta. Just in case you need it. Now, once the tomatoes have softened and blistered, add in the garlic, salt, and pepper.
Allow the mixture to cook for about 1-minute. Then, pour in the vegetable (or chicken) broth. Increase the heat to medium and let the sauce simmer for about 8-minutes. Remove it from the heat.
Last, toss the rigatoni noodles with the caprese sauce, balsamic vinegar, and fresh basil. Sprinkle the pasta with mozzarella pearls.
If the dish is too dry for you, then consider adding the leftover pasta water. That’s it, your rigatoni caprese pasta is done! Kim and I hope you enjoy it and wish you all the best 🙂
Recipe Tips and Notes:
- For a vegetarian caprese pasta, use vegetable broth in place of chicken broth.
- Be aware that the flavors of the dish will intensify when stored in the fridge. Just something to keep in mind if you have leftovers.
- The sauce is meant to be thin. For a saucier version, consider using canned crushed tomatoes in place of the fresh ones.
