Fusilli alla Caprese
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Simple yet spectacular, this fusilli alla Caprese requires just a handful of ingredients, comes together quickly, and is delicious hot or cold.
Cooking weeknight dinners can sometimes feel like a chore, but when a dish is as simple and spectacular as this one, it can almost be relaxing. Adapted from Giada De Laurentis, this fusilli alla caprese recipe requires just a handful of high-quality ingredients. (And if you love the idea of a pasta dish that’s made with just a few ingredients, I bet you’ll love my cacio e pepe and spaghetti aglio e olio). The best part about this fusilli recipe? The sauce comes together in less time than it takes to boil the pasta. It’s even delicious cold, so if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, you’ve got an easy lunch ready to go!
“Love this! Easy to make and delicious! It’s definitely a crowd pleaser, too! One of my go to recipes.”
What You’ll Need To Make Fusilli Alla Caprese
- Fusilli Pasta: Fusilli is the ideal pasta shape for this recipe – because of its corkscrew shape, the sauce clings nicely to it. But if you’re unable to find fusilli in your store, rotini, penne, or farfalle pastas are all good alternatives.
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Adds richness and depth to the dish, serving as the base for the sauce. Make sure to use a good quality olive oil here. My favorite brands are Lucini and Colavita
- Garlic: Infuses the olive oil with aromatic flavor, giving the sauce its savory foundation.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Brings natural sweetness and acidity, creating a fresh, vibrant sauce when cooked down. If your store happens to carry packages of assorted colors of cherry tomatoes, I love the color they add to the dish; if not no worries – it will still be lovely.
- Fresh Basil: Introduces a fragrant, herbaceous note that brightens the dish.
- Fresh Mozzarella Pearls: Provides a creamy, melty texture that contrasts beautifully with the pasta and sauce. These are the tiniest mozzarella balls, named for their size. Most large supermarkets carry them conveniently packaged in 8-oz pouches but, if you can’t find them, simply buy a ball of fresh mozzarella and dice it into cubes.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
Begin by boiling the fusilli until al dente. You’ll need to reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water to use in the sauce. It’s easy to forget when you drain the pasta, so I always set out a liquid measuring cup as a visual reminder.
Next, use a small serrated knife to halve the cherry tomatoes.
Make the sauce: in a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes; do not burn.
Add the halved tomatoes, salt, and pepper and increase the heat to medium-high.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes start to soften and burst, 4 to 5 minutes.
Using a fork, smash the tomatoes into a chunky sauce.
Add the drained fusilli to the pan and toss to combine.
Right before serving, toss in the basil and mozzarella pearls. (It’s important to do this at the last minute so the cheese doesn’t melt too much.)
Taste and adjust seasoning, adding the reserved pasta water little by little if the pasta seems dry. Spoon into bowls and serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely—grape tomatoes are a perfect substitute. Just halve them as you would with cherry tomatoes.
Yep! If you’d like to reheat it, use the microwave and reheat until just warmed through. It’s also delicious cold.
Sure, grilled chicken, shrimp, or even some crispy pancetta would be great additions.
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Fusilli alla Caprese
Simple yet spectacular, this fusilli alla Caprese requires just a handful of ingredients, comes together quickly, and is delicious hot or cold.
Ingredients
- 1 pound fusilli (or similar) pasta
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 large cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups (about 1½ pints) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup fresh packed basil leaves, roughly chopped or torn
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella pearls (alternatively, you can use an 8-oz ball of fresh mozzarella, diced)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions, until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving ½ cup of the cooking liquid.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes; do not burn. Add the tomatoes, salt, and pepper and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes start to soften and burst, 4 to 5 minutes. Using a fork, smash the tomatoes into a chunky sauce. Add the drained fusilli to the pan and toss to combine. Right before serving, toss in the basil and mozzarella pearls. (It's important to do this at the last minute so the cheese doesn't melt too much.) Taste and adjust seasoning, adding the reserved pasta water little by little if the pasta seems dry. Spoon into bowls and serve.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 520
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated fat: 7 g
- Carbohydrates: 62 g
- Sugar: 5 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Sodium: 506 mg
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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I love Jenn’s recipes! However, I was a bit skeptical about this one. It looked too simple and maybe not that flavorful. WOW, was I right and wrong! It was simple…..but the flavor was fantastic!!! Tasted fresh and just plain delish! Again, thanks Jenn!!!! You make me and my hubby smile!!!
😊
This dish was so easy and so flavorful! My husband and I loved it and we are planning to try it again, only next time skipping the basil and mozzarella and substituting parmesan just for a different take on a great recipe. Jenn’s recipes never fail me. Also, a shameless plug for her cookbook, you should buy it for more great recipes.
This recipe is out of this world good!!!!! I made it tonight and my husband and son cannot get enough! The flavor is so unbelievable. The tomatoes and basil were both grown in my garden so it couldn’t taste any fresher. Thank you so much again Jen for another recipe beyond perfection, and so easy to make. It is definitely a keeper in my dinner repertoire.
This looks delicious. My family can’t eat garlic. Is there a substitution you would recommend for flavor? Thank you!
Hi Allison, Unfortunately, there’s no perfect substitute for garlic, as it has a very distinct flavor. If you’re able to use onions, you can replace the garlic with some diced shallots. Hope that helps and that you enjoy the dish if you make it!
Marvelous and easy. Unbeatable combination. Added about 6 ounces of leftover already cooked salmon that was sitting in the freezer. Better half (perennial dieter) served her own plate, finished, and then did something she never does. Looked at her empty plate, and without a word, stood up, went to the stove and finished off the pan. That is the ultimate compliment.
As always, thank you for making me look good.
Hi Jenn, this recipe is perfect in its simplicity with all of the fresh garden flavors. We had truffled burrata so that’s we used. Also, when crushing sauteed cherry tomatoes, we use an old fashioned potato masher. Thanks for another keeper!
Sorry, forgot to rate it – Five stars!
Delicious! I made this tonight with a big handful of basil from the garden. Used a mix of local grape tomatoes and Roma tomatoes (cored and seeded) and a mix of mini bocconcini balls and cubed fresh mozzarella. With kosher salt and lots of cracked pepper, I added a good pinch of red chili pepper. I could eat this every day!
Fresh and delicious. Almost the last of our cherry tomatoes!!! Sauce coated the fusilli nicely. Small mozzarella pearls are just right!
Hi Jen-
This sounds like such a wonderful recipe as are so many of your recipes I’ve made. If you could answer a question for me….I love cherry tomatoes but I don’t like it when you saute them and the skins peel away and you are left with a nice, tasty cooked tomato but that skin is a little tough. Is there any way to get around this or could I use a peeled roma tomato in this recipe. Would that work?
Thanks so much!
Hi Suellen, There’s really no way to get around that skin separating from the tomatoes, but yes, an equivalent amount of peeled Roma tomatoes would work nicely — great idea! Hope you enjoy. 🙂
Can you make ahead and serve later w ur buttermilk chicken on the side?
Sure — this is equally good hot or cold. Hope you enjoy!