Summer Pasta

Here, the soft, small mozzarella balls are cut in half so they melt sensually throughout the dish of pasta. The combination of the sweet, tangy tomato sauce with the crunchy, buttery pine nuts and soft, oozing mozzarella makes a very special eating experience.

This pasta dish is easy and inexpensive to make. It is a dish that is rich in protein and carbohydrates, making it a wonderful one-dish meal. A simple green salad or crudités (raw cut-up vegetables) with small bowls of extra-virgin olive oil and sea salt for dipping served alongside is perfect, and a crisp dry white wine like a Greghetto or a Pinot Grigio makes the meal complete.

Review now

Ingredients

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil		1 pound dried short pasta (such as penne or campanelle)
1 pound cherry tomatoes, halved		15 small balls fresh mozzarella, halved
10 fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped, plus more whole leaves for garnish		1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1 clove garlic, minced		1/2 teaspoon sea salt

directions

Total: 45 min

Try Kitchen View! Take your computer to the kitchen and view this recipe full-screen, with step-by-step directions.

Enter Kitchen View

1
In a large sauté pan, heat the oil over medium heat.
2
Add the tomatoes, basil, and garlic.
3
Cook until the tomatoes are soft, 15 to 20 minutes.
4
Remove from the heat.
5
Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente; drain well, then transfer the pasta to the sauté pan with the sauce. Add the mozzarella balls and toss to combine them with the tomato sauce and pasta. Add the pine nuts and toss. Add the salt and mix again. Serve immediately on a large oval platter, garnished with large basil leaves.

Chime In

iVillage

Summer Pasta

Ingredients

directions