If you’re craving a dish that feels like a warm hug on a plate, the Roasted Tomato & Stracciatella Acini di Pepe Recipe is exactly what you need. This delightful pasta combines the sweet, caramelized flavors of roasted tomatoes with the creamy goodness of stracciatella cheese, tossed with delicate acini di pepe pasta. It’s a comforting yet elegant meal that sings with freshness and richness in every bite. Whether you’re preparing a simple weeknight dinner or impressing friends over the weekend, this recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that never fails to deliver big on flavor and satisfaction.
Ingredients You’ll Need
While this recipe uses a handful of simple ingredients, each one is crucial to achieve the perfect balance of texture, flavor, and color. From the juicy tomatoes to the creamy stracciatella, every element plays a star role in this dish.
- Ripe, juicy tomatoes: Choose tomatoes that are bursting with flavor to ensure a sweet, caramelized roast.
- Extra virgin olive oil: For roasting the tomatoes and finishing the dish, providing richness and depth.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors beautifully, both in seasoning the tomatoes and pasta water.
- Freshly ground black pepper: Adds just the right amount of subtle heat and complexity.
- Acini di pepe pasta: These tiny pasta pearls hold onto the sauce perfectly for a delightful mouthfeel.
- Stracciatella cheese: Offers creamy pockets of lusciousness that elevate the whole dish.
- Fresh basil leaves: Torn and sprinkled for a refreshing herbal note and vibrant color.
- Garlic: Minced to bring a fragrant, savory foundation to the sauce.
- Lemon juice (optional): Adds a bright, zesty lift if you want to brighten the flavors even more.
How to Make Roasted Tomato & Stracciatella Acini di Pepe Recipe
Step 1: Roast the Tomatoes
Start by heating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Halve your ripe tomatoes and give them a good toss in olive oil, salt, and freshly ground pepper. Lay them cut-side up on a baking sheet and pop them into the oven for about 25 to 30 minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when they’re beautifully soft, slightly caramelized, and bursting with that deep roasted tomato flavor. This step is what truly elevates the dish, creating a natural sweetness and richness you just can’t get from raw tomatoes.
Step 2: Cook the Acini di Pepe Pasta
While the tomatoes roast, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your acini di pepe pasta and cook it according to the package directions—usually around 6 to 8 minutes—until it’s perfectly al dente. Make sure to reserve a little pasta water before draining; this starchy water will come in handy to help loosen the sauce and bring everything together beautifully.
Step 3: Sauté the Garlic
In a large skillet, warm a few tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic to the pan and sauté until just fragrant, about one minute. This gentle cooking releases the garlic’s aromatic oils without overpowering the dish, giving the sauce a delicious depth right from the start.
Step 4: Combine Tomatoes and Pasta
Now, add the tender roasted tomatoes along with all their luscious juices directly into the skillet with the garlic oil. Toss in your drained acini di pepe pasta and stir everything together. If the sauce feels a bit thick, splash in some of that reserved pasta water a little at a time until you achieve a silky, cohesive sauce that clings to every tiny pasta bead.
Step 5: Fold in Stracciatella and Garnish
Remove the skillet from heat and gently fold in generous spoonfuls of stracciatella cheese. It will melt into creamy pockets throughout your pasta, creating a luscious, dreamy texture that is simply irresistible. Finish by tossing on torn fresh basil leaves and adjusting the seasoning with extra salt, pepper, or a splash of lemon juice if you want to add a zesty brightness.
How to Serve Roasted Tomato & Stracciatella Acini di Pepe Recipe
Garnishes
Fresh basil leaves are the perfect finishing touch, adding a pop of green and a burst of herbal freshness. You could also sprinkle a little freshly cracked black pepper or a drizzle of high-quality olive oil to enhance the dish’s natural flavors even more. For some extra texture, a few toasted pine nuts make a delightful addition.
Side Dishes
This dish stands beautifully on its own, but for a fuller meal, consider serving it alongside a crisp green salad with a lemon vinaigrette or some roasted vegetables. Garlic bread or crunchy crostini would also pair wonderfully, giving that satisfying contrast of crunchy and creamy sensations on the palate.
Creative Ways to Present
For an elegant dinner, serve the pasta in shallow bowls to showcase its colorful components. You can swirl each portion to highlight those creamy stracciatella pockets and juicy roasted tomatoes. Another fun idea is to spoon it into small appetizer glasses for a canapé-style presentation, perfect for entertaining guests in a unique and eye-catching way.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you happen to have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The pasta will absorb more of the sauce’s flavors overnight, making it even tastier when reheated. Just be mindful that the stracciatella’s texture might soften further, so adding fresh cheese when reheating can keep that luscious creaminess alive.
Freezing
This particular dish is best enjoyed fresh, as freezing can alter the delicate texture of the stracciatella and pasta. If you need to freeze leftovers, separate the pasta and cheese. Freeze only the pasta with the tomato sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. Reheat gently and add fresh stracciatella afterward to revive that fresh, creamy element.
Reheating
Reheat leftovers gently in a skillet over low heat, stirring frequently. Add a splash of water or broth to bring back the creamy sauce consistency. After warming through, finish by folding in fresh stracciatella cheese and a sprinkle of basil to recapture the fresh, melty indulgence of the original dish.
FAQs
Can I use other types of pasta for this recipe?
Absolutely! While acini di pepe gives a lovely pearl-like texture that holds the sauce beautifully, small pasta shapes like orzo or ditalini can also work well if you don’t have acini di pepe on hand.
Is stracciatella cheese necessary, or can I substitute?
Stracciatella is key for the creamy, soft pockets of cheese that melt into the pasta, but if you can’t find it, fresh mozzarella or burrata can be good substitutes. Just be sure they’re fresh and creamy for the best effect.
How can I make this recipe vegan?
To make a vegan version, skip the stracciatella and instead add a dollop of cashew cream or a plant-based cream cheese alternative. Roasted tomatoes and garlic will still bring plenty of flavor, so the dish remains rich and satisfying.
Can I prepare the roasted tomatoes ahead of time?
Yes! Roasted tomatoes can be made a day or two in advance and stored in the fridge. This actually deepens their flavor. Just warm them gently before combining with the pasta.
What’s the best way to pick ripe tomatoes for roasting?
Look for tomatoes that are slightly soft to the touch with a deep, vibrant color and a fragrant smell at the stem end. These will roast up sweet and tender, perfect for this recipe.
Final Thoughts
This Roasted Tomato & Stracciatella Acini di Pepe Recipe is a joy to make and even more delightful to devour. Its beautiful harmony of roasted sweetness, creamy cheese, and tender pasta makes it a dish you’ll want to return to again and again. Give it a try and watch how those simple, fresh ingredients transform into something truly unforgettable!
Print
Roasted Tomato & Stracciatella Acini di Pepe Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 2 to 3 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Roasted Tomato & Stracciatella Acini di Pepe recipe combines caramelized roasted tomatoes with tender acini di pepe pasta, infused with garlic and finished with creamy, luscious stracciatella cheese and fresh basil. The gentle roasting of tomatoes enhances their natural sweetness and depth of flavor, while the stracciatella adds a luxurious creaminess that melds perfectly with the subtly garlicky pasta, making for an elegant yet comforting Italian-inspired dish perfect for a light meal or dinner.
Ingredients
Vegetables & Herbs
- Ripe, juicy tomatoes – quantity depending on serving size (about 2 medium tomatoes)
- Fresh basil leaves – torn, for garnish (about 1/4 cup)
- Garlic – 2 cloves minced
Pantry Items
- Extra virgin olive oil – a few tablespoons for roasting and finishing (about 4 tablespoons total)
- Salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Salt for pasta water
- Lemon juice (optional) – a splash
Pasta & Cheese
- Acini di pepe pasta – 1 cup dry
- Stracciatella cheese – 4 to 6 ounces, generous portions
Instructions
- Roast the tomatoes: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Halve the ripe tomatoes and toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread them cut-side up on a baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes until soft, caramelized, and bursting with flavor.
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the acini di pepe pasta and cook according to package instructions, typically 6-8 minutes, until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving some pasta water for later use.
- Sauté the garlic: In a large skillet, warm a few tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute, taking care not to burn it.
- Combine tomatoes and pasta: Add the roasted tomatoes along with their juices to the garlic oil in the skillet. Toss in the drained pasta, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce. Stir well to combine and heat through.
- Add stracciatella and garnish: Remove the skillet from heat and fold in the stracciatella cheese, allowing it to melt into creamy pockets throughout the dish. Garnish with torn fresh basil leaves and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and optionally a splash of lemon juice to taste.
Notes
- Use ripe and juicy tomatoes for the best natural sweetness and roast them until caramelized to maximize flavor.
- Reserve some pasta water when draining to adjust the sauce consistency easily.
- Handle garlic gently during sautéing to avoid burning, which can cause bitterness.
- Stracciatella cheese adds creaminess – if you can’t find it, fresh mozzarella or burrata can be a substitute.
- Adjust seasoning last after adding cheese to balance saltiness and brightness with lemon juice.
- This dish is best served immediately to enjoy the creamy texture of the cheese.
