The Ultimate 10-Minute Fresh Tomato Pasta with Zesty Lemony Vinaigrette
Gorgeous pasta made with the simplest of ingredients and ready in only 10 minutes. Let your summer tomato bounty sing in this healthy, fresh, vegetarian dinner.
This Fresh Tomato Pasta dinner post is sponsored.
Imagine a vibrant, satisfying meal that bursts with fresh flavors, requires minimal effort, and is on your table in just ten minutes. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, it’s not! This Fresh Tomato Pasta with Lemony Vinaigrette is precisely that. It’s a celebration of simplicity, transforming humble ingredients into an elegant and incredibly delicious dish that will undoubtedly impress, even on the busiest weeknights. This recipe is a testament to the fact that healthy, gourmet-tasting food doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary journey, this dish promises a delightful experience.
At its core, this Fresh Tomato Pasta is an ode to the power of quality ingredients. Tomatoes, fresh herbs, creamy cheese, all brought together by a divine, zesty vinaigrette. There’s a beautiful understatement to this recipe; it appears simple on the surface, yet delivers a depth of flavor that feels sophisticated. This is the secret to many Italian dishes – the quality of each component shines through, elevating the entire experience. When you choose ripe, beautiful heirloom or cherry tomatoes, fragrant basil, genuine extra virgin olive oil, and creamy fresh mozzarella, you’ll find the flavors harmonize into something truly extraordinary. Skimp on quality, and the dish will fall flat. Invest in good ingredients, and you’ll create a meal that tastes otherworldly.
The Heart of the Dish: Fresh Tomatoes and Aromatic Basil
The star of this pasta dish is, without a doubt, the fresh tomatoes. During summer, when tomatoes are at their peak, their natural sweetness and juiciness are unparalleled. Using a mix of cherry and grape tomatoes adds a wonderful variety of texture and intense flavor. Each bite offers a burst of sunshine, making this meal incredibly refreshing. We’ll be cutting these tomatoes into bite-sized pieces, ensuring that they marry perfectly with the pasta and the other ingredients. The goal is a uniform-ish size for optimal enjoyment.
Complementing the tomatoes is fresh basil. There’s no substitute for the vibrant, peppery, slightly sweet aroma of freshly chopped basil. It’s the quintessential herb for tomato-based dishes, adding an authentic Mediterranean flair. Together, the tomatoes and basil create a fragrant foundation that screams summer. These simple, yet powerful ingredients are what give this pasta its incredibly fresh and clean taste, turning a basic meal into a truly memorable dining experience.
Barilla Ready Pasta: A True Weeknight Game-Changer
Now, let’s talk about the real secret weapon for getting this delectable meal on the table in just 10 minutes: Barilla Ready Pasta. This product is a revelation for anyone who values speed and convenience without sacrificing quality. Forget waiting upwards of 20 minutes for a pot of water to boil, then another 8-10 minutes for the pasta to cook. With Barilla Ready Pasta, you’re only 60 seconds away from perfectly al dente pasta!
The beauty of Barilla Ready Pasta lies in its simplicity. It’s essentially pre-cooked Barilla pasta with just a touch of olive oil and sea salt – nothing more. This means you get the same authentic taste and texture you expect from Barilla, but in a fraction of the time. You can pop it in the microwave for a minute, or, as I’ve discovered, even toss it directly into a simmering sauce or a sautéed vegetable mix on the stovetop. It integrates seamlessly into your cooking, absorbing flavors and bringing your meal together in an instant. For busy parents, students, or anyone looking for a quick, wholesome dinner solution, this is an absolute lifesaver. It’s like entering a new era of pasta preparation – fast, efficient, and always delicious. Finding this at my local Walmart has made meal planning and grocery runs incredibly easy.
The Zesty Lemony Vinaigrette: Flavor that Sings
While the fresh ingredients and quick pasta are vital, it’s the lemony vinaigrette that truly brings this dish to life. This isn’t just any basic dressing; it’s a carefully crafted blend that adds brightness, tang, and a subtle kick. Fresh lemon juice is non-negotiable here, providing that essential citrusy zing. But what elevates this vinaigrette from good to spectacular are the additions of Dijon mustard and a hint of prepared horseradish.
Dijon mustard adds a lovely emulsifying quality, helping to bind the oil and vinegar together, while also introducing a complex, tangy flavor. The horseradish, though used sparingly, provides a nuanced warmth and a gentle bite that awakens the palate without overpowering the fresh tomatoes. This versatile vinaigrette isn’t just for pasta; it would be equally fantastic drizzled over a fresh green salad, steamed asparagus, or even roasted green beans. Its bright and savory notes make it an ideal companion for a variety of vegetables.
And speaking of quality, let’s have a candid moment about olive oil. I know it sounds like I’m about to become one of those “hoity-toity” foodies, but truly, not all olive oils are created equal. Many on the market are unfortunately adulterated or of poor quality. The key is to read labels. Look for certifications that guarantee authenticity. You don’t necessarily need expensive imported oils; some of the best extra virgin olive oils are produced right here in the U.S., particularly in sunny California. These often cost less because they lack import duties and travel less distance, meaning you get a fresher product for your money. A good, robust olive oil will impart a fruity, slightly peppery flavor that enhances the entire dish, whereas a low-quality one can leave an unpleasant aftertaste. Choosing wisely makes a huge difference in the final outcome of your Fresh Tomato Pasta.
Creamy Mozzarella & The Convenience of Walmart Grocery Pickup
Completing our ensemble of exquisite ingredients is fresh mozzarella. Specifically, I love using fresh mozzarella “pearls.” Their small, uniform size means they melt slightly and become wonderfully creamy when tossed with the warm pasta and vinaigrette, distributing their delicate, milky flavor evenly throughout the dish. There’s something undeniably satisfying about the way these soft, fresh cheese pearls complement the juicy tomatoes and al dente pasta.
As a busy mom, I’m always looking for ways to streamline my life, and that’s where Walmart’s free grocery pickup comes in as another absolute win. The convenience of entering my entire grocery list online, paying, and then simply driving up to have it loaded into my car is a massive time-saver. It means I can get everything I need for this Fresh Tomato Pasta – from the beautiful mixed tomatoes (especially when my garden isn’t producing yet!) to the essential Barilla Ready Pasta, fresh basil, good olive oil, and mozzarella pearls – all in one go, without stepping foot inside the store. This seamless shopping experience contributes directly to making quick, delicious meals like this pasta dish a reality, even on the most hectic days.
So, we’ve covered the lightning-fast Barilla Ready Pasta, the peak-season fresh tomatoes, the bright and flavorful lemony vinaigrette, and the creamy fresh mozzarella. The combination creates a symphony of textures and tastes that is both simple and deeply satisfying. This Fresh Tomato Pasta recipe truly is the “bomb bomb diggity bomb” – healthy, incredibly easy to prepare, and visually stunning. It proves that outstanding flavors can indeed come from the most straightforward ingredients, just as good food is meant to be.
Fresh Tomato Pasta in Lemony Vinaigrette (Ready in 10 Minutes!)
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Ingredients
- 24 oz mixed cherry and grape tomatoes
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves chopped
- 1 8 oz pkg fresh mozzarella “pearls”
- 1 8 oz pkg Barilla Ready Gemelli Pasta
- For the Vinaigrette
- juice of half a lemon
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- couple good pinches fresh cracked pepper
- ¼ tsp prepared horseradish
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
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Cut the tomatoes into bite sized pieces: have the grape tomatoes the long way, half the small cherry tomatoes, quarter the larger ones, so they end up uniform-ish, but pretty.
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Whisk together the ingredients for the vinaigrette, drizzling in the olive oil last while whisking constantly to thicken and make a bit of an emulsion.
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Cook the pasta according to package directions. (Literally, this is 60 seconds in the microwave)
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Toss everything together in a large bowl: tomatoes, pasta, vinaigrette, basil, and cheese. Taste for seasoning. Serves 2-3 as a main dish, 4-5 as a side.
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