A 15 minute Caprese Pasta with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil – a delicious and super fast and easy weeknight dinner. Quickly sautéing onion and garlic in olive oil first adds so much more flavour than simply tossing everything with the hot pasta!
I used to think I cannot ever share easy recipes, because, well… They’re too easy.
But when I look at what I make on a day to day basis? It’s the One Pot Pea and Corn Pasta or the Creamy Tomato Pasta that both literally take three minutes to throw together and 15 minutes to cook in total.
It’s the Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Lemon Chicken Dinner because it’s a main and two sides cooked on a single sheet pan. Or the Beef and Broccoli Ramen you can whip up in a skillet in no time at all.
And then I realised… Sometimes, the easiest recipes are the ones we need the most. When life gets crazy.
When your kids go through a ~phase~. Or when your work schedule grabs your free time and runs with it.
You’re just plain too exhausted to spend more than 5 minutes standing up.
Yep, that’s when recipes like this 15 Minute Caprese Pasta are real life-savers.
Because this is how easy it is to make:
Chop an onion, some garlic, a bit of mozzarella; quarter your cherry tomatoes; slice some basil
- Cook the pasta, reserving some cooking water
- Sauté the garlic and onion in olive oil
- Toss in the pasta
- Toss in everything else
And that’s it. It’s quick. It’s easy. It’s pretty picky eater friendly (unless your picky eaters are anything like my brothers, who coincidentally both despise anything remotely resembling a tomato – unless it’s ketchup).
But the best thing about simple recipes like this one? Clean up is nothing.
Plates and forks into the dishwasher. Oh go on, the pot and skillet, too.
I mean it’s up to you, but I like to use the extra time to kick up my feet, pour myself a glass of wine and watch re-runs of The Nanny.
Fran Fine? You are some of the best of 90s TV.
P.S: If you need a good cry, the end of Season 1, Episode 22 will take care of that for you.
Are you tired of the dinner routine?
Stuck in a rut or looking for fun new recipes to try?
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15 Minute Caprese Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound Angel Hair Pasta
- 4 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 small Onion finely chopped
- 4 cloves Garlic finely minced
- 3 cups Cherry Tomatoes quartered
- 2 handfuls Fresh Basil large, thinly sliced
- 8 ounces Mozzarella Cheese sliced into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar optional
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes optional
- Grated Parmesan Cheese to serve
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt generously. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of cooking water.
- While the pasta is cooking: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat in a wide skillet. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes.
- Add the pasta to the hot skillet and toss until evenly coated.
- Add the tomatoes and remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil and toss for one more minute.
- Add a few tablespoons of pasta cooking water, just enough so it doesn’t feel dry.
- Toss in the basil, mozzarella and balsamic vinegar (if using) and season to taste.
- Serve immediately with parmesan.