Penne with Grape Tomatoes and Mozzarella is a simple yet flavorful pasta dish that is perfect for a quick and easy meal. This classic Italian dish combines the sweetness of grape tomatoes, the creaminess of mozzarella cheese, and the nutty flavor of toasted pine nuts. It is a versatile dish that can be customized to your liking by adding different vegetables, herbs, or proteins.
In this article, we will provide you with three variations of the classic Penne with Grape Tomatoes and Mozzarella recipe. The first recipe is a vegetarian version that uses fresh basil and a balsamic glaze to add a pop of flavor. The second recipe adds grilled chicken for a protein-packed meal. And the third recipe is a creamy version that uses a combination of heavy cream and Parmesan cheese to create a rich and decadent sauce.
No matter which variation you choose, you're sure to enjoy this delicious and satisfying pasta dish. So gather your ingredients and let's get cooking!
PENNE WITH FRESH TOMATOES, BASIL, AND FRESH MOZZARELLA
Provided by Food Network
Categories side-dish
Time 35m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Put a large pot of salted water on for the pasta. Meanwhile, prepare your sauce. In a large skillet, heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil. Add the garlic and cook until just fragrant, about 1 minute or less. Add the tomatoes and cook them for 3 to 5 minutes, just until they begin to release some of their juice.
- Cook the pasta in the pot of salted boiling water for 12 to 13 minutes until al dente. Drain the pasta. Add the pasta and basil to the pan with the tomatoes and toss. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Serve the pasta in bowls, equally distribute the fresh mozzarella and grated Parmesan between the bowls. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the bowls of pasta and serve immediately.
PENNE WITH BABY MOZZARELLA, TOMATOES, AND HERBS
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of cold water to a boil over high heat, then salt it generously, add the pasta, and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain.
- Meanwhile, strip the leaves from the oregano and thyme sprigs. Chop them together with the garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the pepper, and then use the flat side of the knife to mash and smear the mixture to a coarse paste. Put in a bowl, along with the cheese, olive oil and toss to coat the cheese with the herb paste.
- Cut the tomatoes into pieces about the same size as the cheese. Gently fold the tomatoes, parsley, and olives in with the cheese. Add the drained pasta and toss, then drizzle over a bit of olive oil and toss again. Serve now or room temperature.
PENNE, TOMATO, AND MOZZARELLA SALAD
Garden fresh basil and summer sweet cherry tomatoes make this pasta salad a warm season favorite. Takes only a few minutes to put together, a quick summertime meal.
Provided by MARBALET
Categories Salad Vegetable Salad Recipes Tomato Salad Recipes
Time 40m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water as directed on package, until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a small saucepan. Add green onions and cook, stirring occasionally, 2 or 3 minutes. Stir in garlic, and cook for 2 minutes. Add pasta, tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Cook over low heat to warm through. Stir in mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Coarsely tear basil leaves in halves or thirds; add to pasta with olives, and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 404.8 calories, Carbohydrate 47.5 g, Cholesterol 21 mg, Fat 17.2 g, Fiber 3.8 g, Protein 17.5 g, SaturatedFat 5.2 g, Sodium 337.2 mg, Sugar 3.2 g
PENNE WITH GRAPE TOMATOES AND MOZZARELLA
Adding chickpeas to the pasta makes this meal heartier and healthier; using thyme instead of more predictable basil perks up the whole dish.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains
Time 20m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water. Add chickpeas to pot; immediately drain pasta mixture, and return to pot.
- Add tomatoes, bocconcini, thyme, oil, and vinegar to pasta. Toss, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time to create a thin sauce that coats penne (you may not need all the water). Season with salt and pepper; toss to combine. Serve, garnished with additional thyme.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 634 g, Fat 21 g, Fiber 6 g, Protein 29 g
TOMATO BASIL PENNE PASTA
A Mediterranean-style family staple.
Provided by Elisa Stamm
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta
Time 45m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Cook pasta in boiling water until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain.
- Heat basil and olive oils in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook garlic in oil until soft. Add tomatoes, reduce heat to medium, and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in pepperjack, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. When cheese begins to melt, mix in cooked penne pasta. Season with fresh basil.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 502.4 calories, Carbohydrate 47.1 g, Cholesterol 57.8 mg, Fat 24.8 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 24.1 g, SaturatedFat 10.9 g, Sodium 461.8 mg, Sugar 2.3 g
PENNE PASTA WITH TOMATOES AND CHEESE
This recipe came from a fund-raising cookbook our neighborhood put together. It's very flavorful. Freezes well.
Provided by MrsEl
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h40m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat 3 Tbsp oil in pan.
- Saute onion and garlic.
- Mix in tomatoes, basil and ground red pepper.
- Bring to a boil, breaking up tomatoes.
- Add broth and boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer about 1 hour.
- (Can make this much ahead.) Cook pasta and drain.
- Toss with 3 Tbsp oil.
- Mix pasta with sauce and then mix in Havarti cheese.
- Put into 9x13 baking dish and sprinkle top with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake in 375 oven about 30 minutes.
- ½ of this recipe will easily serve 4.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 512.6, Fat 18, SaturatedFat 3.4, Cholesterol 4.9, Sodium 362.9, Carbohydrate 79.5, Fiber 13.7, Sugar 11.9, Protein 13.3
PENNE PASTA WITH TOMATOES AND GORGONZOLA
This is a great pasta dish if you like Gorgonzola cheese. Combined with the tomatoes and basil, it makes a wonderful dish. We enjoy it with a crisp green salad, or spinach salad, and garlic sticks.
Provided by Miss Annie
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 40m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat.
- Add chopped onion and garlic and saute until clear, about 8 minutes.
- Stir in chopped tomatoes and basil.
- Cook until mixture thickens, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, beat the butter with the Gorgonzola with a spoon, until blended.
- Cook pasta until just tender, but still firm to the bite; drain well.
- Return pasta to pot.
- Whisk Gorgonzola mixture into tomato sauce.
- Add sauce to pasta and stir to coat.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Sprinkle with cheese and serve.
PENNE WITH TWO TOMATOES AND MOZZARELLA
We used penne rigate pasta for this dish because its ridges catch the pieces of tomato, garlic, and chive. Rigatoni or medium shells would also work well.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains
Time 25m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place cheese in freezer. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain pasta and set aside.
- In pasta pot, heat oil over medium-high. Add cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and pasta water. Cook until cherry tomatoes soften, 2 to 4 minutes.
- Add pasta, chilled cheese, and chives to pot, season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 501 g, Fat 15 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 23 g
PENNE WITH ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES
This exquisitely simple recipe came to The Times in a 2001 article about Paola di Mauro, an Italian winemaker in Marina, a small town southeast of Rome. She was one of a band of cooks who helped distinguish "cucina casalinga," roughly translated as "housewives' cooking." From her humble kitchen, Ms. di Mauro mentored some of the best Italian chefs and restaurateurs in the United States, including Mario Batali, Lidia Bastianich, Piero Selvaggio and Tony May. Her recipe is easy and calls for just five ingredients - cherry tomatoes, olive oil, pecorino romano and penne pasta - but get your hands on the best ingredients you can afford. Ms. di Mauro intended this to serve four as a first course, but if you're making this for dinner, double the recipe.
Provided by Amanda Hesser
Categories dinner, pastas, main course
Time 35m
Yield 2 to 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line bottom of casserole dish with cherry tomatoes in a single layer, halved side up. Pour oil on top, season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle cheese and bread crumbs on top. Bake until tomatoes have wilted, about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season with enough sea salt so that water tastes mildly of salt. When tomatoes are just about done, add penne to water and cook until al dente (it should be pliable, but still firm in center). Scoop out about a cup of pasta water and reserve. Drain pasta and add to casserole. Fold tomatoes and pasta together, adding another 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil, to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning. If it is dry, add a little reserved pasta water. Serve, passing more grated cheese at the table.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 525, UnsaturatedFat 24 grams, Carbohydrate 52 grams, Fat 30 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 12 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 493 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients: Fresh grape tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil will yield the best flavor.
- Choose a good quality olive oil: A flavorful olive oil will enhance the taste of the dish.
- Cook the pasta al dente: This means cooking it until it is still slightly firm to the bite.
- Don't overcook the tomatoes: They should be cooked until they are just softened but still hold their shape.
- Use a large skillet: This will give the pasta plenty of room to cook evenly.
- Season the pasta well: Salt, pepper, and garlic powder are all good choices.
- Add the mozzarella cheese at the end: This will prevent it from melting too much and becoming stringy.
- Garnish with fresh basil: This will add a pop of color and flavor.
Conclusion:
This penne with grape tomatoes and mozzarella is a quick and easy weeknight meal that is packed with flavor. It is perfect for a light lunch or dinner, and it can be easily customized to your liking. For example, you could add some cooked chicken or shrimp for protein, or you could use a different type of cheese, such as Parmesan or Asiago. This dish is also a great way to use up any leftover pasta or vegetables that you have on hand.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love