Melting Cherry Tomato & Mozzarella Pasta

(1)

This simple yet delicious pasta dish combines cherry tomatoes with mozzarella, highlighting their natural sweetness and mozzarella’s creamy, gooey texture. Mozzarella pearls are the perfect size for mixing into the finished dish. If you can’t find them, chopped fresh mozzarella will work well too.

Active Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
4
Melting Cherry Tomato & Mozzarella Pasta ingredients

Ali Redmond

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces whole-wheat rotini or other short tube pasta

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • ¼ -½ teaspoon crushed red pepper

  • 1 pound cherry tomatoes (about 3 cups)

  • ¾ teaspoon salt

  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper

  • cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for garnish

  • 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze, plus more for drizzling

  • 1 cup halved mozzarella pearls

Directions

  1. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup cooking water, then drain the pasta.

    pasta and reserved pasta water

    Ali Redmond

  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes, salt, Italian seasoning, pepper and the reserved pasta water. Bring to a lively simmer and cook, stirring occasionally and adjusting heat as needed, until the tomatoes burst and the sauce has thickened, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat.

    Stirring melting tomatoes in a pan

    Ali Redmond

  3. Add the pasta, basil and balsamic glaze; stir to combine. Stir in mozzarella. Garnish with basil and drizzle with balsamic glaze, if desired.

    Melting Cherry Tomato & Mozzarella Pasta in a bowl

    Ali Redmond

Nutrition Information

Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups

Calories 418, Fat 19g, Saturated Fat 5g, Cholesterol 22mg, Carbohydrates 50g, Total Sugars 7g, Added Sugars 1g, Protein 15g, Fiber 7g, Sodium 632mg, Potassium 563mg

EatingWell.com, August 2024

Related Articles