Ingredients
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1/2 Lb. Penne PastaMake it al-dente
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2 oz. Grated Mozzarella Cheese
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1 oz. Grated Parmesan Cheese
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1/4 Cup Chopped Leaves of Basil - Fresh
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2 Tablespoons Butter
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2 Tablespoons Olive OilExtra Virgin Olive Oil is recommended
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You can also add
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6 Pieces Cherry Tomatoes
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1 cup Capers
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Making the recipe Non-Vegetarian. Add also (choose only one):
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100g Ground Beef
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80g Tuna
Steps for Penne with Basil & Mozzarella
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1
Done
10 Minutes
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Make the penne pasta Al-DentePut the 1/2 lb. Penne pasta into the boiling water and mix, mix, mix! Depending on what Penne pasta you bought, cook as directed on package. Continue stirring continuously. Using a slotted spoon (or your utensil of choice), fish out a single penne pasta, let it cool a bit, then take a bite. If it's al-dente, then take out your pasta... if no, let the pot on the heater and try again in one minute. I used Barilla Penne for this recipe. |
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2
Done
16 Minutes
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Drain the Pasta and add the rest of ingredientsAfter the pasta is ready, drain in the sink and return to pot. Over the pasta, add the 2 oz. of Grated Mozzarella and 1 oz. of Parmesan Cheeses, 2 Tbsp. of Butter, 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil (extra virgin is recommended), Salt and Pepper to taste. Then toss over low heat until Mozzarella starts to melt. place in a serving dish and make the last touch: Sprinkle with chopped Basil. Bon appétit! |
Additional Info for Penne with Basil & Mozzarella
Penne Pasta with Basil and Mozzarella is a simple meal, one that respects Italian cuisine. Italian style of cooking is, in general, very simple, and every recipe has a few ingredients that allow the flavor from pasta (in our case Penne) to be the most pronounced.
Content on this page…
About the vegetarian Penne with Basil and Mozzarella recipe
All Italian pasta must be cooked al-dente. If you do not know how to make al-dente pasta, see here. If you do that, you’ll have a true Italian cooking style, therefore, a greater result.
You only need 1/2 lb. of Penne Pasta, 2 oz. Grated Mozzarella Cheese, 1 oz. Grated Parmesan Cheese, 2 Tbsp. Butter (very important), 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil and 1/4 Cup of Chopped Fresh Basil Leaves. The recipe is Godly!
Penne with Basil and Mozzarella is a simple, vegetarian recipe that can be made in the afternoon or evening, easy to prepare, and has a great flavor. Penne, one of the most used pasta of all times, is the substitute for spaghetti (in general). Some people love penne and some spaghetti. You can substitute the Penne with Spaghetti, but the taste will change a bit.
Why Penne and not Linguini or Spaghetti? Vegetarian Variations!
As I said in my other Italian recipes, the taste between Penne, Spaghetti, Linguini, and Fettuccine is different and can modify the taste of the resulting dish. Before posting a recipe, I balance and experiment with different ingredients, searching for the best result that could possibly be obtained.
I started with Spaghetti in this recipe, but the taste wasn’t as expected, but with Penne, the flavor was awesome. Well, something was missing though… two (2) types of cheese. The Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheese are very rarely used both in the same dish, but for this recipe, wow!! You can also substitute the Mozzarella with Cheddar cheese. The variations written here are for a vegetarian lifestyle. If you are not vegetarian, you can also add meat (see below).
Can I add meat?
If you like your pasta with meat, you can add two types: beef or tuna. This kind of recipe doesn’t get along with pork or chicken, therefore, choosing beef or tuna will have the best result. To be honest, I would choose tuna over beef as meat in my pasta recipes. Italians don’t eat their pasta with meat, it’s true that there are some exceptions, but still, tuna is my first choice for sure. You have to decide if you want Italian (choose tuna) or American (choose ground beef) cooking style.
Can I lose weight with penne pasta, basil, and mozzarella?
Of course, you can lose weight with pasta as long as you keep it simple. Look at Italian people, do you see many overweight? I think not. The pasta doesn’t add belly fat if eaten carefully, and this recipe is perfect if you follow a weight-loss diet. Also, you can ask your nutritionist how you can combine and choose the right recipes for your weight-loss program. This recipe has few calories per serving and makes your stomach think it’s full for a long time. To keep it for your weight-loss diet, don’t add any type of meat, just let it be vegetarian (trust me, the penne pasta, basil, and mozzarella tastes great).
Why should you try this simple penne pasta, basil, and mozzarella
From time to time is recommended to change the American cooking style with other cuisine styles. This Italian style is the best choice after a long American cooking style period. Do not be afraid to cook something simple, the penne pasta, basil, and mozzarella will change your perception, trust me. Most of my clients (from my restaurant) were afraid to choose another cuisine style, and I convinced them with this: if you do not like the taste of this dish, you’ll not pay for it. Now they are coming back for more! Therefore, try and let me know how it was :D.
