BEST Tomato Mozzarella Pasta

Best Tomato Mozzarella Pasta

I dreamt of this pasta sauce the night before I made it! My best ideas always come in my sleep! This is quite possibly the best fettuccini dish I have made!

Tomato Mozzarella pasta is made with fresh tomatoes, pancetta, marinated  bocconcini, some herbs and not much more! But trust me…this will be on the rotation in your household! It’s unbelievably delicious and fairly inexpensive too!

Let make it!

 

My digital cookbook full of my Italian Family Recipes is available here:

Melissa Jo’s Italian Recipes Family Style

Follow me on my Socials: 

Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/melissa_jo_xo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissajorealrecipes/

Tiktok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMefwxmFY

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqVeqVQT-x7bj-

Pinterest: https://pin.it/1ylkIzC

 

More Foods & Drinks you will LOVE:

Pasta Broccolini: https://melissajorealrecipes.com/recipes/dinner/best-pasta-broccolini/

Creamy Lemon Pasta: https://melissajorealrecipes.com/recipes/dinner/creamy-lemon-pasta/

Hot Cocoa Cake: https://melissajorealrecipes.com/recipes/holiday/easy-best-hot-cocoa-cake/

Easy Beefaroni: https://melissajorealrecipes.com/recipes/dinner/easy-beefaroni/

Melissa Jo’s Chicken Parmigiana: https://melissajorealrecipes.com/recipes/dinner/melissa-jos-chicken-parmigiana/

Melissa Jo’s Rigatoni alla Vodka: https://melissajorealrecipes.com/recipes/dinner/melissa-jos-rigatoni-alla-vodka/

Sliders, Animal Style: https://melissajorealrecipes.com/uncategorized/sliders-animal-style/

Buffalo Chicken  Mac & Cheese: https://melissajorealrecipes.com/dinner/buffalo-chicken-mac-cheese/

Grandma’s Stuffed Peppers: https://melissajorealrecipes.com/recipes/dinner/grandmas-stuffed-peppers/

Spicy BBQ Chicken Sliders: https://melissajorealrecipes.com/uncategorized/spicy-barbeque-chicken-sliders/

Skinny Rum Cocktail: https://melissajorealrecipes.com/drinks/skinny-rum-cocktail/

Tips and Tricks:

• Al dente pasta: Boil the pasta slightly less than the suggested time on the box for that perfect, slightly firm texture.
• Toss before serving: Make sure to mix the pasta and sauce just before serving to retain the flavors.
• Customize the heat: Adjust the spice level by modifying the amount of crushed red pepper.
• Freshness matters: Use high-quality, fresh ingredients for the best taste.

Melissa Jo Real Recipes 

Best Tomato Mozzarella Pasta Recipe

Ingredients:

• about 20 oz. of yellow and red grape or cherry tomatoes cut in half

• 4 oz. of diced uncured pancetta (I used Boars Head)

• At least 2-3 tbsp. of good extra virgin olive oil

• 1/2 tsp of crushed red pepper

• 5-6 cloves of sliced garlic

• 1 tsp of kosher salt (add more or less to taste)

• 1 tsp of cracked black pepper

• 1 lb. of fettuccini

• about 3/4 cup of pasta water

• about 10 oz. of marinated fresh mozzarella balls (Bocconcini) I used BelGioioso

• Salt and pepper to taste

• about 2-3 oz. of fresh roughly chopped basil

• Garnish: chopped fresh parsley, basil, and more Pecorino Romano

How To:

1. Add the pancetta to a skillet with high sides at medium heat with a tbsp. of olive oil. Allow the pancetta to sauté until the fat renders and they are crisp, but not too crisp!

2. Remove the pancetta from the skillet but keep the fats in the skillet.

3. Start the water for the fettuccini and salt it heavily before adding the pasta to cook. Reserve about 3/4 cup or so of pasta water before draining the pasta. Boil the pasta 1 minute less then the directions on the back of the box for aldente pasta.

4. Add the crushed red pepper to the skillet and then add all of the tomatoes. Sauté  the tomatoes at medium high heat and stir frequently. Season with a generous amount of cracked black pepper and kosher salt. Before you add any other ingredients the tomatoes should be blistered and start breaking apart. You can use the back of a wooden spoon to mash them a bit. But, the tomatoes shouldn’t be fully mashed. Just blistered and a bit gushy.

5. Then, add the sliced garlic to the pan and saute until the garlic is fragrant and slightly golden.

6. Add 2 more tbsp of olive oil and stir.

7. Add the pasta water to the skillet and bring to a low boil.

8. Next, the pancetta goes back into the skillet along with any accumulated juices from the bowl.

9. Using tongs add the fettuccini into the skillet and begin incorporating the sauce with the pasta by storing together.

10. Add generous amount of fresh roughly chopped basil to the skillet. Stir.

11. Add the marinated mozzarella balls (bocconcini) on top of the pasta dish. The heat should be at medium. Cover the skillet and allow the cheese to melt into the pasta dish.

12. Uncover the skillet once the cheese is melty and incorporate the ingredients with a pair of tongs.

13. Serve in a large family size bowl and garnish with fresh parsley, basil, and Pecorino Romano.

14. Enjoy the BEST pasta ever! Make it!