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    Cucina by Elena » Recipes » Italian Pasta Recipes

    Gemelli Pasta Recipe with Tomatoes and Mascarpone

    Published: Jul 12, 2022 · Modified: Aug 31, 2023 by Elena · 15 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    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!

    portion of gemelli pasta and tomatoes with mascarpone on a plate with a fork and pan in the background.

    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 for 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 cleanup while staying cool in the kitchen.

    You will also love Angel Hair Pasta Recipe with Garlic and Herbs (Easy), and Vitamix Tomato Soup Recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Simple Ingredients
    • How to make Creamy Gemelli Pasta with Tomatoes and Mascarpone (Step-by-Step Photos)
    • 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!

    ingredient shot for recipe
    • Gemelli pasta
    • Cherry tomatoes
    • Garlic
    • Shallot
    • Olive oil
    • Mascarpone cheese
    • Parmigiano or parmesan cheese
    • Fresh basil
    • Salt and Pepper to taste

    See the recipe card for quantities.

    How to make Creamy Gemelli Pasta with Tomatoes and Mascarpone (Step-by-Step Photos)

    This dish comes together in a little time with a few easy steps.

    roasting the tomatoes in pan with garlic and shallot.

    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.

    process shot. adding mascarpone cheese to the pan with cooked tomatoes

    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.

    cooking the gemelli pasta and saving the pasta water.

    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.

    final dish of gemelli pasta with tomatoes and mascarpone

    Lastly, drain the pasta and add to the prepared sauce. Add reserved pasta water and toss to combine. let sauce coat the 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!

    gemelli pasta final dish with extra parmigiano

    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. 

    gemelli pasta final dish with extra parmigiano

    Where to buy Gemelli pasta?

    You can find gemelli pasta shapes at almost 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.

    uncooked gemelli pasta shape

    Gemelli pasta recipes

    I know you will want more gemelli pasta recipes since children and adults love this pasta shape. Here are 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.

    close up of final dish in the pan.

    Substitutions

    • Ricotta Cheese - instead of mascarpone cheese, you can use ricotta or even cream cheese.
    • Pasta Shape - Read this post (a guide to pair sauces with pasta) for other types of pasta that work for this recipe. 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 it 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 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.

    portion of gemelli pasta and tomatoes with mascarpone on a plate with a fork and pan in the background.

    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 marry with the sauce.

    SHOP our handmade pasta utensil to measure long pasta portions and stir the pasta. This is my most used tool in the kitchen when cooking pasta dishes.

    What to serve with Gemelli Pasta with Tomatoes and Mascarpone

    This serves as a wonderful vegetarian main course, or serve it alongside 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!

    portion of gemelli pasta and tomatoes with mascarpone on a plate with a fork.

    How to store leftover pasta

    After the 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

    How to use gemelli pasta

    You can use gemelli in place of many different short kinds of pasta, 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.uncooked gemelli pasta shape

    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 rating on the recipe card and comment below if you make the recipe. I love to connect with you through my recipes.

    I would love for you to tag me on Instagram @cucinabyelena so I can see your delicious Italian recipes. To get more ideas, follow me on Pinterest.

    Print
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    gemelli pasta in pan ready to serve

    Creamy Gemelli Pasta with Tomatoes and Mascarpone

    ★★★★★

    5 from 8 reviews

    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    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

    Units Scale
    • 1 lb gemelli pasta (or other short pasta)
    • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
    • 3 cloves of garlic, minced
    • 1 shallot, minced
    • 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

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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!
    • Author: Elena
    • 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

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @cucinabyelena on Instagram when you make the recipe! I would love to see it. Don't forget to leave a STAR RATING and REVIEW on this post. Thank you!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bridget Johansen says

      September 21, 2022 at 8:23 am

      Love it! Our hostess made it for our monthly gourmet group last week and I couldn't wait to make it for my family. Super easy and flavorful!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Elena says

        September 21, 2022 at 3:25 pm

        So happy you loved it. It is a recipe we make often since it is supper easy and soooooo satisfying.

        Reply
      • Cheryl says

        June 22, 2023 at 9:15 am

        This was such a delicious recipe!! I made it for me and my husband and we even had some leftovers for another meal. It was filling yet a light dish that I could incorporate some tomatoes and herbs from my summer garden. Your recipes are amazing!!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Elena says

          June 22, 2023 at 11:39 am

          Thrilled you loved it. Here's to more Italian recipe for your summer table (and beyond)!

    2. Suzette says

      September 15, 2022 at 7:20 pm

      I made this recipe twice last week--the first time because we have so many delicious cherry tomatoes in our garden ripening right now. The second time because we LOVED this pasta dish! It was so easy to make, and sooo delicious!

      Thank you so much for all of these fantastic recipes! My family honestly loves everything I make from your site!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Elena says

        September 16, 2022 at 4:04 pm

        We are also making this weekly with all the tomatoes our neighbors gift us! You are lucky to have your own garden. I need to do that sometime since we have the space- we just have a deer problem in our neighborhood and they eat everything, ha!

        I hope you enjoy all the yummy recipes that are to come! Best, Elena

        Reply
    3. Teresa says

      August 30, 2022 at 6:26 am

      Super easy and fast to make. Delicious!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Elena says

        August 30, 2022 at 7:42 am

        Happy you loved it!

        Reply
    4. Jenn says

      August 28, 2022 at 8:57 am

      My vegetarian husband loves this dish. Easy to make and so much flavor!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Elena says

        August 29, 2022 at 10:28 am

        So happy he loved it!! It is an easy and wonderful recipe.

        Reply
    5. Marle says

      August 09, 2022 at 3:22 am

      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!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Elena says

        August 09, 2022 at 3:45 pm

        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.

        Reply
    6. Carina Ayriss says

      July 14, 2022 at 2:29 pm

      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

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Elena says

        July 18, 2022 at 1:37 pm

        Thank you, I am happy you loved the recipe. It is so easy to make!

        Reply
    7. Elena says

      July 12, 2022 at 7:31 am

      You will love this recipe!! It is easy and super delicious with lots of flavor. Enjoy.

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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    Profile photo of Elena Davis in her kitchen leaning on the kitchen counter. She is wearing a blue button up shirt and her Cucina By Elena apron counter

    Ciao! I'm Elena. Welcome to my cucina (kitchen). I was born in Italy and grew up spending my summers on the beaches of Sardegna cooking, eating, and sharing tasty Italian meals. Here you will find trusted, achievable, and delicious Italian (and more) recipes that highlight fresh ingredients with a simple process.

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