Caprese nests of spaghetti

Name: Caprese nests of spaghetti
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: Spaghetti 9.9 oz; Tomato purée 1.67 cups; Mozzarelline ciliegine cheese 8; Cherry tomatoes 4; Grana Padano PDO cheese (to be grated) to taste; Yellow onions small 1; Basil to taste; Extra virgin olive oil to taste; Fine salt to taste; Black pepper to taste; Butter for the baking pan to taste

it de br es fr

439

Calories per serving

Vegetarian

Energy Kcal 439
Carbohydrates g 63
of which sugars g 6.9
Protein g 17.6
Fats g 12.9
of which saturated fat g 5.61
Fiber g 3.6
Cholesterol mg 21
Sodium mg 405

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Makes: 8 pieces
Cost: Low

PRESENTATION

Caprese spaghetti nests are like, well, a super fun mash-up of two Italian classics. We're talking about that fresh caprese vibe—juicy cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella balls, and lots of bright basil. And you know what? It all blends with that cozy spaghetti al pomodoro goodness. In Campania, folks really, really love these simple and flavorful combos. And let me tell you, these nests totally nail it. They're like bite-sized pasta and salad bundles, so so tender, and seriously easy to eat.

And look, they come out of the oven all golden and cheerful—perfect for hanging out together. In Campania, there's this cool thing about reinventing old-school dishes, and these baked spaghetti nests are a brilliant example. Instead of just your average spaghetti, it's shaped into rounds that hold pockets of caprese goodness. It’s a neat twist on a traditional dish, but with a fresh, tangy kick. For sure. Some folks even toss in tiny meatballs, giving a nod to those family-style baked pasta dishes.

Plus, serving these is a breeze—no messy scooping here. Just grab a nest and dig in! All those crispy edges and soft centers mean every bite has a bit of everything. It’s really, really satisfying. So here's the thing: when you want something fun and different for an appetizer or casual dinner, these caprese spaghetti nests keep things light and super tasty. They capture that Italian flair of making simple stuff feel special, turning every meal into a celebration. And the versatility? Seriously good. You can tweak the recipe for any occasion—making sure your guests always have something to talk about. Pretty much.

How to prepare Caprese nests of spaghetti

To prepare the caprese nests of spaghetti, start with the sauce. Peel the onion and finely chop it; you can also use a mixer 1. In a saucepan, pour a little olive oil and let the onion sauté over low heat, stirring occasionally 2. After a few minutes, add the tomato puree 2, adjust with salt, and let it cook over low heat for about 45 minutes 3, stirring occasionally.

At the end of cooking, the sauce should be reduced 4. Bring the water to a boil to cook the spaghetti about 20 minutes before the sauce is ready. Then cook them when it is almost done 5. 2-3 minutes before the end of cooking, drain them directly into the tomato sauce 6.

Let them absorb the flavors for a moment longer 7. Then, season with hand-torn basil leaves 8 and a pinch of pepper 9.

Turn off the heat and grease a muffin tin with a little butter (or oil) 10. Form the nests directly in the tin 11, making sure to leave a little space in the center 12.

Sprinkle the surface with a little grated Grana Padano DOP 13 and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes in grill mode to brown the surface 14. When the nests are ready 15

transfer them to the serving dish 16 and place a cherry mozzarella + one cut in half in each hollow 17. And, for each nest, add ¼ of a cherry tomato and a basil leaf. Another pinch of pepper and enjoy your meal 18.

Storage

It is advisable to consume the caprese nests immediately to not lose taste and fragrance. You can store them for a few days in the fridge.

You can prepare the sauce in advance and then continue with the recipe.

Freezing is not recommended.

Advice

You can make a nice fresh tomato sauce to cook your caprese nests! Instead of onion, you can use shallots, which will make your sauce more fragrant.

Finally, to not lose the crunchy note of bread – which usually accompanies caprese salad – add toasted breadcrumbs or crumbled 'taralli sugna e pepe' on top!

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.

Caprese nests of spaghetti

PRESENTATION

How to prepare Caprese nests of spaghetti

Storage

Advice

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