Fusilli alla Caprese

I have wanted to make this recipe for quite a while, but I would buy the ingredients to make it and end up using them in another recipe before I would get a chance! I wish I hadn’t waited so long, this was delicious summer dinner! I added some chopped chicken breasts that I sauteed in olive oil with a little bit of garlic powder and it was perfect. This recipe comes from Giada De Laurentiis, found over at Lauren’s Kitchen.

Fusilli alla Caprese

1 pound fusilli pasta

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) (I used mini-mozzarella balls)

2 chicken breasts, cooked and cut up

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. Add the chicken and serve.