Caprese-Inspired Tomato Mozzarella Pasta

Ingredients

• 180 g Pasta (penne or spaghetti)
• 2 medium (~300 g) Tomatoes, diced
• 120 g Mozzarella-style cheese, shredded
• 10 g Fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
• 0.5 tsp Salt(optional)
• 0.25 tsp Black pepper(optional)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prep (15 minutes total): Dice the tomatoes, chop the basil, mince the garlic, and shred the mozzarella-style cheese.

2. 2

   Cook (10 minutes total): Boil pasta in salted water until just tender, then reserve about 1/4 cup (60 ml) pasta water and drain.

3. 3

   In a pan, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté garlic for 30–60 seconds until fragrant.

4. 4

   Add diced tomatoes and cook 3–4 minutes until slightly softened and glossy; season with salt and black pepper.

5. 5

   Toss in the drained pasta, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen, then fold in the shredded mozzarella-style cheese until it starts to melt and coat the pasta.

6. 6

   Turn off heat and stir in basil. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and serve immediately.