Caprese Penne Pasta
Caprese penne pasta is a quick, fresh, and flavor-packed meal you can whip up any night of the week. It has the components of caprese salad: juicy tomatoes, basil, and creamy (dairy-free) mozzarella combined with al dente pasta. This pasta caprese recipe is dairy free and can easily be made gluten free.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves smashed
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1.5 pounds cherry tomatoes, halved (4 cups whole or 24 ounces)
- 1 cup dairy free mozzarella cheese cut into pieces
- large handful fresh basil leaves hand torn
- kosher salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and add to a large bowl.
- Make the herb-infused olive oil. Add olive oil, smashed garlic cloves, and Italian seasoning to a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Sift and season. Pour the olive oil through a fine mesh sieve directly onto the cooked pasta. Discard the smashed garlic and dried herbs. Season to taste with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Toss to combine.
- Combine. Add the halved cherry tomatoes, torn pieces of creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves. Toss again to combine.
- Serve. Dish up and add a drizzle of balsamic glaze if desired.
Notes
See the blog post for helpful tips, storage, and recipe FAQs.