Gemelli Pasta Recipe with Tomatoes and Mascarpone is a quick 30 minute meal the whole family will love. This creamy mascarpone and blistered pan roasted cherry tomato sauce recipe pairs perfectly with gemelli pasta!
If you have fresh tomatoes in your garden, or have access to juicy sweet ones near you this recipe is the perfect way to use them. The sweet pop of delicious tomato flavor and rich creaminess from the mascarpone
Serve with Crispy Baked Cod , green salads, and homemade bread. It is perfect for summer with all the fresh cherry tomatoes! More summer recipes here: 32 BEST Italian Summer Recipes.
I love the spiral shape of gemelli pasta! This easy recipe makes for the perfect weeknight dinner. It will so be a friend and family favorite. This creamy pasta sauce recipe is so simple to make and will leave you craving seconds every time!
With the warmer weather you'll appreciate that this pasta dish comes together in one pan and you won't need to turn on your oven! Easy clean up while staying cool in the kitchen.
Jump to:
- Simple Ingredients
- How to make Creamy Gemelli Pasta with Tomatoes and Mascarpone
- Meaning of "Gemelli" in Italian
- Gemelli pasta recipes
- Substitutions
- Variations for Gemelli pasta recipe
- Saucepan recommendations
- What to serve with Gemelli Pasta with Tomatoes and Mascarpone
- How to store leftover pasta
- Top tip
- FAQ's
- Creamy Gemelli Pasta with Tomatoes and Mascarpone
Simple Ingredients
With a few pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients you are on your way to the most delicious and easy pasta meal!
- Gemelli pasta
- Cherry tomatoes
- Garlic
- Shallot
- Olive oil
- Mascarpone cheese
- Parmigiano or parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil
- Salt and Pepper to taste
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make Creamy Gemelli Pasta with Tomatoes and Mascarpone
This dish comes together in little time with a few easy steps.
Heat a large sauce pan or large skillet to medium heat. Add olive oil, garlic and cherry tomatoes. Let cook at medium high heat until tomatoes are roasted and blistered.
When the tomatoes are done cooking turn heat to low and add mascarpone cheese. Stir until cheese is melted. Add parmigiano cheese and stir until smooth and combined. Stir in fresh basil.
Cook your pasta in a large pot of salted water. Boil pasta until al dente package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
Lastly, drain pasta and add to the prepared sauce. Add reserved pasta water and toss to combine. let sauce coat pasta. Top with fresh basil leaves and extra parmigiano cheese. Serve and enjoy!
Hint: Reserving the pasta water makes this sauce creamy and delicious! Buy my most used and loved pasta utensil (pictured above). Read this guide on how to cook pasta perfectly every time!
Meaning of "Gemelli" in Italian
The Italian word for twins is "gemelli".
Despite their initial appearance and name, meaning 'twins', gemelli pasta are traditionally made from single strands of pasta, folded in half and then twisted around themselves.
Where to buy gemelli pasta?
You can find gemelli pasta shapes at most any grocery store in the pasta aisle. You can also buy them online. Here are a few of my favorite brands that sell them.
- Barilla
- DeLallo
- DeCecco
Banza brand even makes a gluten free variety!
I love gemelli pasta shape and so do my children.
Gemelli pasta recipes
I know you will want more gemelli pasta recipes since children and adults love this pasta shape. Here are a a few sauces that pair well with the gemelli pasta shape: Classic Italian Tomato Sauce (Sugo al Pomodoro), Authentic Italian Pesto Genovese (Basil Pesto), and Easy Creamy Saffron Sauce with Pasta.
Substitutions
- Ricotta Cheese - instead of mascarpone cheese you can use ricotta, or even cream cheese.
- Pasta Shape - Read this post (guide to pair sauces with pasta) for other types of pasta that work for this recipe. Honestly, I can see short and long pasta working well with this recipe.
Variations for Gemelli pasta recipe
The first time you make this recipe make it the traditional way. You can try a variation the next time you make it!
- Spicy - add red chili flakes while cooking the tomatoes to imbue heat into the dish.
- Anchovies - add a few fillets of chopped anchovies into the sauce for a great umami flavor.
- Lemony - add a lemon kick by topping with lemon zest and a little lemon juice.
- Herbs - add fresh herbs such as a little parsley of rosemary and thyme for EXTRA flavor.
- Deluxe - add a little heavy cream to make the creamy sauce even creamier!
Try this sauce recipe with gemelli pasta: Creamy Mushroom Sauce . If you love anchovies try this classic Italian pasta dish: Authentic Italian Spaghetti alla Puttanesca Recipe.
Saucepan recommendations
I use this large saucepan for so many recipes. See here: Easy Italian Sausage and Peppers Skillet Recipe. It is large and deep enough to stir the al dente pasta in after it is cooked to go marry with the sauce.
SHOP our handmade pasta utensil to measure and stir pasta like a true Italian!
What to serve with Gemelli Pasta with Tomatoes and Mascarpone
This serves as a wonderful vegetarian main course, or serve it along side BEST Breaded Chicken Cutlets (Italian), with a side of Italian No Knead Ciabatta Bread, and end with Authentic Italian Tiramisu Recipe, or Italian Pistachio Gelato!
How to store leftover pasta
After pasta cools store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-5 days.
Here are a few airtight containers that work well for storing leftover pasta dishes, and more: Pyrex different sizes, Snapware different sizes, Glasslock oven safe, and Rubbermaid Takealongs.
More Recipes for YOU!
- Trottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp
- Fried Spaghetti Recipe with Leftover Pasta
- Authentic Italian Spaghetti alla Puttanesca Recipe
- Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Dough Recipe
- Authentic Easy Italian Tiramisu Recipe
Top tip
Make sure to cook your pasta perfectly al dente every time! Read HOW TO COOK PASTA PERFECTLY EVERY TIME!
FAQ's
You can use gemelli in place of many different short pastas, such as penne or fusilli. It holds sauces well, including meat sauces, cream sauces, tomato sauces, and oil-based sauces. Try it in a simple pasta salad, or a hearty baked pasta.
Make this quick and easy recipe for dinner tonight! You can never go wrong with a 30 minute pasta dish!
Make sure to leave a star review below!
Make sure to tag me on Instagram @cucinabyelena. I hope you loved it! To get more ideas follow me on Pinterest.
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Creamy Gemelli Pasta with Tomatoes and Mascarpone
Gemelli Pasta Recipe with Tomatoes and Mascarpone is a quick 30 minute meal the whole family will love. This creamy mascarpone and blistered pan roasted cherry tomato sauce recipe pairs perfectly with gemelli pasta!
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 lb gemelli pasta (or other short pasta)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 8 oz mascarpone cheese
- ¼ cup Parmigiano or parmesan cheese, more for serving
- 5 leaves fresh basil
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat a large sauce pan or large skillet to medium heat. Add olive oil, garlic, and shallots. Let them get fragrant for 15-30 seconds in the oil Add the cherry tomatoes. Let cook at medium high heat until tomatoes are roasted and blistered.
- When the tomatoes are done cooking turn heat to low and add mascarpone cheese. Stir until cheese is melted. Add parmigiano cheese and stir until smooth and combined.
- Cook your pasta in a large pot of salted water. Boil pasta until al dente package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Lastly, drain pasta and add to the prepared sauce. Add reserved pasta water and toss to combine. Stir in basil leaves. Let sauce coat pasta. Top with extra parmigiano cheese and fresh ground black pepper. Serve and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Savory
- Method: Italian
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: pasta, gemelli pasta recipe, mascarpone, cherry tomatoes, quick and easy
Elena says
You will love this recipe!! It is easy and super delicious with lots of flavor. Enjoy.
★★★★★
Carina Ayriss says
I made this recipe last night it is delicious! Very easy to make simple ingredients using the small tomatoes and letting them blister gives a delicious fresh flavour and of course the mascarpone gives it that silky creamy texture. I ate far too much!!
I would highly recommend it for family and friends
★★★★★
Elena says
Thank you, I am happy you loved the recipe. It is so easy to make!
Marle says
I've made this dish twice now after finding it 3 weeks ago. We've just used the small pasta we've had on hand. What makes this dish is the sauce. The so simple, not overly seasoned, beautifully creamy, sauce. My husband always complains that you can't find good Italian in the states. Nothing is like what his grandma used to make. But this dish, he said was the best pasta he's ever had. So simple and so delicious. A must try!
★★★★★
Elena says
That is a huge complement! I grew up in Italy and my passion is to share recipes that are simple and reflect true Italian cooking. Enjoy many more. All the best, Elena.