Speedy Cherry Tomato Pasta #305: Tomatoes, Rocket & Mozzarella
Crafting a nutritious and flavourful meal doesn’t always demand extensive time. This Speedy Cherry Tomato Pasta #305 has been specifically designed for those evenings where efficiency is paramount, offering a reliable solution for your weekly meal planning. Utilising straightforward ingredients and a direct preparation method, you’ll achieve a fresh and satisfying dish that seamlessly fits into any busy schedule. This recipe beautifully illustrates how calm and organised cooking can yield deliciously rewarding results, even when your time is at a premium.
Quick Overview
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes
- Cooking Time: 12-15 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
- Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 6.3 oz (180g) short pasta (e.g. fusilli, penne)
- 7.1 oz (200g) cherry tomatoes
- 4.4 oz (125g) fresh mozzarella (fior di latte or bocconcini)
- 1.8 oz (50g) fresh rocket
- A few fresh basil leaves
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Method
- Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook according to package instructions, usually for 10-12 minutes, until al dente.
- While the pasta cooks, wash the cherry tomatoes and halve or quarter them, depending on their size. Drain the mozzarella and cut into cubes.
- In a large bowl, combine the chopped cherry tomatoes, cubed mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves, torn by hand.
- Drain the pasta when al dente, reserving a ladleful of the cooking water. Transfer the drained pasta to the bowl with the tomatoes and mozzarella.
- Add the extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix gently to combine all the ingredients. If the mixture seems a little dry, add a tablespoon of the reserved pasta cooking water.
- Stir in the fresh rocket just before serving, mixing briefly to prevent it from wilting too much. Serve immediately.
Serving & Leftovers
Serve this pasta warm or at room temperature. It also works beautifully as a cold pasta salad for lunch the following day. If there are any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one day. It’s best to add fresh rocket just before serving to maintain its crispness.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates and may vary depending on specific ingredients and portion sizes.
One Last Thing
Discovering how simple ingredients can transform into a balanced and speedy meal is key to stress-free weekly cooking. At SmartKitchen30, we champion easy routines that fit your lifestyle. If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, we invite you to explore more of our quick preparations designed for minimal fuss and maximum flavour.