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Creamy Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta Recipe with Brown Butter and Mozzarella Made Easy

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A quick and easy pasta dish featuring glossy pasta strands coated in nutty brown butter, bursting cherry tomatoes, and gooey melted mozzarella for a perfect balance of creamy and fresh textures.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces (340 g) long pasta (linguine, spaghetti, or fettuccine)
  • 2 cups (about 300 g) cherry tomatoes, ripe and firm, mixed colors preferred
  • 6 tablespoons (85 g) unsalted butter
  • 8 ounces (225 g) fresh mozzarella, torn into chunks
  • 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or minced
  • A handful fresh basil, torn or chiffonade
  • Salt to taste (preferably flaky sea salt)
  • Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for finishing)

Instructions

  1. Prep the Ingredients (5 minutes): Rinse and dry the cherry tomatoes, tear the mozzarella into bite-sized chunks, slice or mince the garlic, and roughly tear the basil leaves. Set aside near your cooking station.
  2. Cook the Pasta (8-10 minutes): Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (about 1 tablespoon salt per 4 quarts). Add pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup (240 ml) pasta water before draining.
  3. Brown the Butter (3-5 minutes): Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and garlic. Stir frequently until butter foams and turns golden with nutty brown bits. Remove from heat once browned and fragrant.
  4. Sauté the Tomatoes (3-4 minutes): Add cherry tomatoes to the browned butter and garlic. Toss gently to coat and warm through until tomatoes soften and start to burst. Cover briefly if needed to steam slightly.
  5. Combine Pasta and Sauce (2-3 minutes): Add drained pasta to skillet with tomatoes and brown butter. Toss together, adding reserved pasta water gradually to loosen sauce and coat noodles evenly.
  6. Add Mozzarella and Basil (1 minute): Off heat, fold in torn mozzarella and basil leaves. Season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes to taste.
  7. Serve Immediately: Plate pasta with extra fresh basil and optional grated Parmesan. Enjoy warm while mozzarella is melty and tomatoes are bursting.

Notes

Watch the butter carefully while browning to avoid burning; it can go from perfect to burnt quickly. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Tear mozzarella instead of shredding for better melting texture. Serve immediately for best texture. For vegan adaptation, use vegan butter and plant-based cheese. Leftovers keep up to 2 days refrigerated; reheat gently on stovetop with splash of water or broth.

Nutrition

Keywords: cherry tomato pasta, brown butter pasta, creamy pasta, mozzarella pasta, quick pasta recipe, easy dinner, vegetarian pasta

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/creamy-burst-cherry-tomato-pasta-recipe-with-brown-butter-and-mozzarella-made-easy/