How to Make Mozzarella Bow-Tie Pasta

One of my favorite side-dishes is mozzarella bow-tie pasta. It is simple, quick and, in my opinion, extremely tasty.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• 1 lb of Bow-Tie Pasta
• Pasta Pot
• Water
• Salt
• Fresh Mozzarella (Type and Amount to be discussed later)
• Olive Oil
• Whole Basil Leaves
• Minced Garlic
• Butter (Optional)

How to Make Mozzarella Bow-Tie Pasta

1. Boil water for the bow-tie pasta. REMEMBER TO ADD SALT TO THE WATER. This is important. When the water boils, add the bow-tie pasta.
2. Once the bow-ties have been cooking for about 5 to 6 minutes, begin your sauce. Put about 3/4 to 1 cup of olive oil in a skillet, add minced garlic (amount of your choice) and butter. The butter is optional; if you add butter I wouldn't recommend any more than a teaspoon.
3. Once the oil combination has been simmering for several minutes, add fresh basil leaves. Although this is not required, I recommend leaving the basil leaves whole. Stir frequently.
4. Once the bow-ties are finished cooking, combine the oil combination with the pasta. Stir throughly until pasta is coated and the basil leaves are distributed as even as possible. Last, add the mozzarella. Stir throughly again.
5. Enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• You'll notice I didn't get too specific about the mozzarella. That was intentional. How much you add depends on your personal tastes. Also, the type of mozzarella used depends on your tastes as well. Usually, I use shredded, however freshly cut mozzarella or mozzarella in a ball form works well too. The most important thing is that you're using QUALITY mozzarella. I'd recommend going to a specialized food store such as an Italian grocery store or a deli to assure that you are using quality cheeses for this dish.