8.26.2010

I have an addictive personality...

I get hooked on things easily. It usually happens with food or cocktails, like I'll decide that vodka and guava juice is the most amazing thing that has ever touched my lips, and then drink nothing but that for the next 3 months. Most recently I got hooked on Caprese salads.

Like I eat no less than one a day, and have yet to get sick of it. Luckily for me, no one else at my house shares my affinity for this delicious treat, so I get to have big balls (thats what she said) of fresh mozzarella all to myself. Last night I was trying to decide what to fix for dinner, when really all I wanted was to have a huge plate of tomatoes and mozzarella, and then suddenly Giada came to my rescue. Her recipe for Fusilli alla Caprese was the answer to feeding my addiction and my family at the same time!!


Fusilli alla Caprese

Ingredients:




  • 1 pound fusilli pasta (I used whole wheat rotini)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cups cherry tomatoes, quartered (about 1 1/2 pints)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves, torn
  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, diced (about 1 1/4 cups)

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta into a large bowl and reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.
In a medium skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, salt, and pepper. As the tomatoes cook and soften, smash them with a fork. Continue to cook until the tomatoes make a chunky style sauce, about 4 minutes. Transfer the tomato sauce to the bowl with the pasta. Toss to combine. Add the basil leaves and mozzarella. Stir to combine. Add the reserved pasta water, 1/4 cup at a time, until the pasta is moist. Serve. Serves 4-6.

10 comments:

Aleksandra Nearing said...

Oh yum! I love caprese salads! Thanks for the recipe!

Jill said...

I have a friend like that who gets addicted to certain foods and drinks, and then switches after a while. Like freshman year of college she had to have a Dove ice cream bar almost every day.

melifaif said...

Um, yummy! You are making me crave that salad.

Tiffany said...

i love caprese salad too--this recipe looks awesome!

Sam said...

Mozzarella cheese is the bomb. Cheese in general is pretty fantastic.

I'll defffinitely have to try this recipe - thanks for posting!

Courtney said...

I LOVE CAPRESE.

No lie, had one at dinner tonight for my birthday.

Great Minds?

Wondering Me said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tiffany said...

I love it, too. You may not be sharing it now, but just wait!

Dede said...

I adore fresh mozzarella:) Yummy!! I try to not indulge too much as it is not on my diet lately:)

a little black cloud in a dress said...

I do the same thing. I once ate the same thing for breakfast for an entire year. My boyfriend thinks I'm insane.