Penne with Mozzarella, Cherry Tomatoes, and Basil is a really easy Italian summer pasta dish. It's even more delicious at room temperature. If you don't like the tuna, leave it out.
I feel silly saying we get really excited to go the super-market. It sounds ridiculous, but it’s TRUE! I could spend literally hours just roaming through every aisle. I get lost in the pasta aisle and the 100’s of different types of pasta.
Then I get lost in the bakery section. Boxes and boxes of pretty pastries ready for me to bring home. Except Teresa won’t let me because she is always baking something wonderful.
If you are into seafood, their seafood department is amazing. If you don’t like seafood…just keep staring at the pastry photos. Very fresh and quite a selection.
This day we were there we picked up some calamari and shrimp. Teresa fried it all. Fried Italian seafood with some salt, lemon, and fresh bread makes the most incredible meal.
Penne with Mozzarella, Cherry Tomatoes, and Basil
Ingredients
- 1 lb penne pasta
- 3 balls medium sized of fresh mozzarella
- 1 lb cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- handful of sliced basil
- can of Albacore tuna optional
- 1/4 – 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- dash balsamic vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Slice mozzarella in little chunks. In a large bowl, add the mozzarella, sliced cherry tomatoes, and basil (and tuna, if you are using it).
- Cook pasta until it’s al dente.
- Drain the pasta and toss it into the bowl with the mozzarella mixture.
- Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Mix with a large spoon until it’s all incorporated. Check flavor and add salt and pepper, if needed.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
Nisrine M. says
This is wonderful food. I go nuts whenever I see good seafood. Your pasta looks wonderful too.
Jan says
I love going to the supermarket/food stores in different countries too. When I was in Malaysia in January, I spent hours at this one place picking out spice packets for curries. I couldn't read anything on the labels, but it was so much fun!
Love the simplicity of this recipe, and it's always nice to have a set of recipes for canned tuna for times when you need good food, fast 🙂
Cait says
i know exactly how that goes girl 😉 I remember being in Italy and drooling over all of the delicious pasta/pastries that the marketplace offered! that pasta looks divine!
Marnely Rodriguez says
Yum, I'd need to buy every single pastry on display. But for the sake of research of course 😉 Love it, thanks for sharing dear!
EA-The Spicy RD says
Yum! When I was just out of college, my best friend and I visited her brother in NYC and he made us a similar dish (minus the tuna). It's still one of my favorite pasta dishes to make. Fun pix from the markets!
Kristen says
Seafood markets have a great allure for me, too. It's so much fun to choose what to make out of the delicious bounty of the ocean. That pasta sounds wonderful...simple and delicious.
Jennifurla says
I always get drawn in with pastry. Lovely simple pasta dish too.
Lindsey @ Gingerbread Bagels says
Oh my word those pastries!!!! I want them all right now. And the pasta is calling my name. I want to come eat in Italy with you! 🙂
Sinful Sundays says
Yum! I love the chunks of mozzarella in the pasta--so good. And, I too love the supermarket, lol.
Baking Serendipity says
A trip to the grocery is one of my favorite afternoons 🙂 But knowing that fresh baked goods are at home in the oven sounds even more fantastic!
Monet says
Hi sweet lady...you know I love my trips to the grocery store. I feel like I live at Whole Foods! I Loved seeing the grocery store items you get to peruse this summer. I'm jealous! Thank you for sharing with me tonight, Lora. I miss you and think of you often.
Carolyn says
Heck, I get excited to go to grocery stores in different parts of the US and Canada, let alone another country. I just like seeing what they have that's different from my home stores. I'd be over the MOON to go in Italy. Mmmmm, hope you are enjoying all that wonderful food.
franca says
è buonissima,lo dico perchè ogni tanto la faccio anche io,solo non metto l'aceto balsamico,che meraviglia d la foto con tutti quei dolci ...............
is very good, I say this because every time I make even me, I just do not put the balsamic vinegar, the wonder of the photo with all those sweet ......
hello and good night from Italy
Happy When Not Hungry says
Love all your photos! Definitely making me miss Italy. Hope you're having an amazing time!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
I want to come play in Italy with you! I'm getting so hungry looking at all your pictures lately!
Maureen says
Talk about food envy drool. I want some of that pasta on my fork right about now. Looks absolutely delicious.
The Vanilla Bean Baker says
The penne pasta dish looks amazing and one my husband would love for sure. While I'm not one to linger over the fish counter those black fish on display in the photo (they look like fish hooks) are intriguing. I've never seen anything like them before!
Sanjeeta kk says
Love that Bakery section, Lora! How did you resist so many goodies 🙂 The first pasta click look so refreshing and healthy.
Magic of Spice says
Oh goodness, I could spend days wandering a local specialty market here...imagine me there 😉
Wonderful pasta dish!
Bestfoodies says
Love pasta and was reading your newest post and not being a fan of zucchini I found this on your site instead and I love it! I am so glad you have the section for other things you might like so this was easy to find!